New Study Finds Texting and Road Rage Common Among Commuters

by

Michael D. Ponce

Last Updated July 31, 2012 In Car Accident

According to a recent survey, employees who commute to work each day are participating in two hazardous driving behaviors: road rage and texting while driving. The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder, and involved workers over the age of 18 who work full-time, are not self-employed, and have non-governmental jobs. Apparently, employees in the U.S. who commute to work are at risk of experiencing road rage and often practice texting while driving, both of which increase the chances of being involved in a serious car accident. If you have suffered injuries in a car accident in Nashville or elsewhere in Tennessee, contact our experienced car accident lawyers at Michael D. Ponce & Associates today.

Dangers of Road Rage and Texting While Driving

The online survey polled 3,892 workers and found that 83% typically commute to and from work each day. Of those who commute, 54% of workers with drive times of ten minutes or less reported experiencing road rage. For workers with drive times of five minutes or less, an alarming 37% reported experiencing road rage during their commute. In addition to longer commute times increasing the risk of a worker having road rage, other revealing finds involving commuters included:

• About one in ten workers has gotten into a fight with another motorist while driving to or from work.
• Younger workers were more likely to experience road rage. Of commuters aged 25 to 34, 68% reported experiencing road rage. For those 55 and older, 47% reported road rage.
• Gender may also play a role in the risk of road rage. Fifty-six percent of men reported experiencing road rage, compared to 61% of women.

Contact a Nashville Car Accident Attorney for Help

In addition to road rage, many workers also reported sending and receiving text messages during their commute. According to the survey, a shocking 30% of workers admitted to texting while driving, a common form of distracted driving and a known factor in the occurrence of car accidents in Tennessee and across the United States. In fact, a recent report issued by the Tennessee Highway Patrol indicated that 20% of all fatal accidents in TN over the past five years were associated with the use of a cell phone by at least one driver involved. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Tennessee, contact our skilled car accident attorneys at Michael D. Ponce & Associates for legal help. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and medical bills, which you can pursue by filing an injury lawsuit against the person found at-fault in the accident.