Poll: Motorists admit distracted driving

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 19 (UPI) -- A vast majority of U.S. drivers admit to engaging in not-so-safe driving habits, even though 98 percent of them claim to be safe drivers, a poll indicates.

A survey by Nationwide Insurance found that more than four out of five cell-phone owners are talk on phones while driving, and 72 percent of all drivers admit to some form of distracting behavior while driving, such as eating.

The study found that almost 80 percent of respondents have been in a vehicle with distracted drivers and more than 40 percent have been hit or almost hit by another driver who was talking on a cell phone while driving.

"Clearly, distracted driving has taken over our roadways, and our survey shows that no one is immune -- no matter how safe they think they are," said Bill Windsor, Nationwide's vice president of safety.

He pointed to a National Highway Transportation Safety Administration statistic that distracted driving causes 80 percent of all auto accidents.

The poll was based on 1,503 phone surveys completed between April 15 and April 24 of drivers ages 16 to 61. The survey has margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percent.