Nearly 1/3 people use Facebook while driving

By Chris Burns/May 19, 2015 4:03 pm EST

AT&T commissioned Braun Research poll finds nearly 1 out of every 3 people use Facebook while driving. Driving their automobile. On the road, in the United States, where you live. The study was done by poll, asking 2,067 in the United States aged between 16-65 who use their smartphone at least once a day AND drive at least once a day a number of questions. What was found was a bit shocking, to say the least. Not only do a lot of people drive while using their phone, a lot of those people do some pretty involved things on their phone whilst driving.

The least mind-blowing statistic in this study suggests that 62% of all drivers in the United States keep their smartphone within easy reach while driving. This means "in their hand, lap, or cup holder, or on the passenger seat or dash."

The rest is just nuts.

Smartphone activities people say they do while driving include the following:

• Text (61%)

• Email (33%)

• Surf the net (28%)

• Facebook (27%)

• Snap a selfie/photo (17%)

• Twitter (14%)

• Instagram (14%)

• Shoot a video (12%)

• Snapchat (11%)

• Video chat (10%)

When it comes to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, responders refer to either viewing or posting – both are included. For Texting and Emailing, responders suggested that they might be reading, sending or replying.

Follow-up questions

• Video behind the wheel: 27% of those who shoot video from their phone behind the wheel suggest that they think they can do it safely while driving.• Social Networking: 22% of those who access social networks like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook suggest they do it because they're addicted.• Constantly: 30% of people who post to Twitter whilst driving say they do it "all the time."

Warning Signs

AT&T's It Can Wait campaign is responsible for this collection of bits and pieces. They'll be pushing additional safety action with Twitter in the near future with virtual reality, as well – you'll see messages galore through Twitter sooner than later.

You'll also see a VR experience on this soon.

The It Can Wait VR experience will come from Samsung, Bose, and Google, and will be delivered through Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones, Samsung Gear VR, and Google Cardboard. Expect more from AT&T soon.

NOTE: We asked AT&T to clarify the following line in their Braun Research study: "Research commissioned by AT&T and conducted by Braun Research. Polled 2,067 people in the U.S. aged 16-65 who use their smartphone and drive at least once a day."

While the sentence may look like it's only including those who drive and use their phone, instead it refers to "people who drive daily and those who use a smartphone daily, but not necessarily together."