Poll: 91% Of U.S. Supports Ban on Texting While Driving

In a new survey, 91 percent of American adults support a ban on texting while driving. Only 6 percent think texting behind the wheel is OK, according to a new Rasmussen Reports telephone poll.

Other findings from the national telephone survey:

• Some 86% of adults between the ages of 18-29 say people should not be allowed to text message while driving.
• Just one percent (1%) of those ages 50 and older think it's okay to text message while driving.
• Twenty-nine percent (29%) of all adults believe text messaging while driving is more dangerous than drinking and driving. Forty-six percent (46%) say drinking and driving is more hazardous, but 24% are not sure.
• In a separate survey late last month, 86% said text messaging is more dangerous than talking on a cell phone while driving.
• But 59% of Americans don't think people should be allowed to talk on a cell phone while driving, up 20 points from late July. Thirty-three percent (33%) disagree.

But it isn't just texting or talking while driving that's controversial. According to Rasmussen:

• Adults are almost evenly divided over whether people should be allowed to eat fast food while driving. Forty-five percent (45%) say people should be allowed to eat while driving, but 43% don't think so. Twelve percent (12%) are not sure.
• In late September, only seven percent (7%) said eating fast food while driving was more dangerous than texting.

Last week, President Obama banned federal employees from text messaging while driving during work or while using a government-owned vehicle. In late September, California enacted a bill banning text messaging and e-mailing while driving.

Seventy-three percent (73%) of adults say they have followed recent news stories about text messaging and driving at least somewhat closely, with 41% following very closely. Eight percent (8%) say they're not following the stories at all.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of adults say Americans are becoming ruder and less civilized. Thirty-six percent (36%) of Americans say road rage is increasing in the United States, while 42% say it's staying about the same.

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