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More Than Texting Distracts Drivers

New Survey Shows Motorists Admit They Play With More Than Phones Behind The Wheel

POSTED: 3:20 pm EDT October 9, 2009
UPDATED: 3:59 pm EDT October 9, 2009

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Car and Driver Magazine caught headlines when they announced that texting while driving was more dangerous than drunk driving, but a new survey asked motorists to open up about what other activities grab too much attention behind the wheel.

Some drivers readily admitted that having other occupants in the car, or even eating and drinking while driving took their attention away from the road.

The survey conducted by LeaseTrader.com polled more than 3,000 drivers nationwide. The results were divided into male and female categories.

Both sexes put texting while driving in the middle of the pack on the list of things that distracted them.

A quarter of all women surveyed said having kids in the car was much more distracting than anything else. After totting kids around, their No. 1 was putting on makeup.

For male motorists, road rage was the top distraction. Nearly 20 percent of men cited frustration and the temptation to exact revenge on discourteous drivers as the biggest reason they failed to pay attention.

Survey participants said that while they were very aware of some of the distractions, there were some that they hadn't thought about until they were asked to list them.

Top Male Distractions By Percentage

    18.3% -- Road Rage
    14.7% -- Eating / Drinking
    10.9% -- Looking At Other Drivers
    9.8% -- Kids In The Car
    9.5% -- Passenger Conversations
    9.3% -- Reading
    7.6% -- Texting
    7.1% -- Playing With The Radio
    4.2% -- Navigation
    4% -- Avoiding Inclement Weather
    3.2% -- Shaving
    1.4% -- Other

Top Female Distractions By Percentage

    26.3 % -- Kids In Car
    16.6% -- Putting On Makeup
    10.4% -- Playing With The Radio
    9.5% -- Navigation
    8.4% -- Avoiding Inclement Weather
    7.1% -- Passenger Conversations
    6.8% -- Eating / Drinking
    4.2% -- Texting
    3.1% -- Reading
    2.5% -- In-Car Video
    2.4% -- Road Rage
    2.7% -- Other

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