Study: One-Third of Drivers Text, Social Network While Driving

Have you ever heard someone on a cell phone while in a public bathroom? While simply inappropriate there, at least it's not dangerous and potentially even fatal.

I recently watched a new episode of "Trauma" on NBC where a man who was texting while driving caused a major highway pile-up and explosion.

While this doesn't always end so deadly, the trend for texting and social networking while driving has recently been noted by consumer electronics shopping site Retrevo.

Retrevo released a new study on Sept. 30, 2009 revealing that 34 percent of people text or use Facebook or Twitter while driving. Of this, 24 percent said they "sometimes" do this with 7 percent saying they do so "frequently". The remaining 66 percent said they "never" do this.

The report says younger people are more unsafe than seniors while driving. The survey says 16 percent of drivers under 25 are very active social media users while driving and 94 percent of drivers over 55 say they never text or social network while driving.

The study also says smartphone users are more dangerous than cell phone users while in the car.

"An alarming 15 percent of iPhone owners say they're reading and writing on their iPhones frequently while driving," the study said. "BlackBerry owners come in second with 9 percent while 83 percent of non-smartphone owners say they never engage in [texting while driving]."

Retrevo cites the following about its report: "The data for this report came from a study of online individuals (non-Retrevo customers) conducted by an independent panel. The sample size was 771 distributed across gender, age, income and location in the United States. The responses have a ... 95 percent confidence level."

More cell phone studies can be found below.

82 Percent of U.S. Users Have Never Texted

Cell Phone Users Want More Self-Service Care

Buying Fewer Cell Phones at Higher Prices