Collegetexting drivingDistracted Drivingtexting while driving

Most College Students Admit To Texting While Driving

Stop Doing This While You Drive
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By 

Senior Editor/Reporter, The Huffington Post

The vast majority of college students engage in something that's both dangerous and typically illegal.

Four out of five students admit to sending or receiving text messages while driving, according to a new study by Garold Lantz and Sandra Loeb at King's College in Pennsylvania.

Student drivers also tend to consider themselves "more proficient drivers than others and so less likely to endanger themselves or others" when they text while driving.

"There seems to be a mentality that use of electronic devices is dangerous for everyone but 'me'," Lantz and Loeb said in a news release.

The study will be published in an upcoming edition of International Journal of Sustainable Strategic Management.

Previous research from the University of California-San Diego Medical Center in 2012 that showed half of college students admit to sending text messages while driving on the freeway.

Either sending or receiving a text diverts a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, according to research funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. A test from Car & Driver Magazine showed it took drivers far longer to react and hit the brakes when sending a text compared to being legally drunk.

A majority of the country -- 39 states and Washington, D.C. -- currently ban texting while driving.

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Before You Go

10 Things To Keep In Mind When Travelling Abroad
Learn About The Local Laws(01 of10)
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Once you enter a country, you are subjected to its laws. Therefore, for your own safety, it's important to learn them before visiting. For instance, in Singapore you can be arrested for spitting in public. (credit:Alamy)
Be Mindful Of The Culture(02 of10)
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Even if the new culture's way of life is unnatural to you, you want to be respectful of it. Be aware of traditions and customs so you can pack appropriate clothes or learn basic skills like how to use chopsticks. (credit:Alamy)
Learn the native language(03 of10)
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Pick up enough phrases to help you when you get inevitably lost, or to ensure that you don't get ripped off at the local markets. If you're staying for awhile, then immerse yourself in the language fully to be able to spark interesting conversations everyday and become more of a member of the community. It's no fun having to always respond to someone with "I don't understand". (credit:Alamy)
Take precautions for the worst(04 of10)
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Just to be safe, leave copies of your passport and address/contact information of where you are going with someone at home. Also, make a few extra copies to keep in your suitcase during your trip in case the original gets lost or stolen. Furthermore, become fully acquainted with the whereabouts of the U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting. (credit:Shutterstock)
Know what may be hazardous to you(05 of10)
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If you are visiting a country that serves mainly spicy food and you know that won't sit well with your stomach, pack appropriate medicines and supplements. If you are visiting a country that is prone to specific bugs or diseases such as malaria, give yourself time to receive the necessary vaccinations and shots. (credit:Alamy)
Watch the news(06 of10)
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Be fully up to date with the happenings in the city you are visiting as well as neighboring countries. Don't be ignorant of potential dangers. (credit:Alamy)
Be smart with your belongings(07 of10)
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Always firmly hold your belongings in a way that they can't be snatched from you and don't dress extravagantly in expensive jewelry or accessories. Travelling abroad may turn you into a photographer but be cautious of flaunting your digital SLR camera. It's important not to make yourself seem vulnerable to robbery and theft. (credit:shutterstock)
Keep in touch just enough(08 of10)
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Though you shouldn't lose touch with your family and friends at home, don't let them inhibit your experience. Consider starting a blog or sending a postcard from your travels so your family and friends can be kept up to date on your adventures. Be in contact enough so you don't lose touch with what's happening at home but also focus on your adventure. (credit:shutterstock)
Travel (09 of10)
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If you're spending a more lengthy time abroad, take advantage of your location to travel. A ticket to Berlin may cost you 200 euros, but do you know how much it costs to get from the U.S. to berlin? About 100x more. (credit:shutterstock)
Do What Natives Do(10 of10)
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This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Ride the elephant in Thailand, drink the snake blood in Vietnam, go sand duning in Dubai and brave through the Singaporean fish pedicure. And have fun! (credit:Alamy)
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