In November 2007, eighty-two point four percent of people in the United States owned a cell phone (Askville). That is over two hundred and fifty Americans with cellular capabilities. From 1997 through 2007, that number quadrupled. Approximately four point six percent of people own cell phones globally (cnet). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that ten percent of drivers are on handheld or hands free cell phones at any given hour of the day.
Out of this many people, fifty six percent of teenagers have admitted to talking on their cell phones while driving (Edgar Snyder). Another thirteen percent have admitted to texting while behind the wheel as well. When asked, forty-eight percent of Americans between the ages of twelve and seventeen have claimed to have been in a vehicle while the driver was texting. Out of newly licensed drivers, fifty-two percent confess to making and answering cell phone calls while driving, and thirty-four percent admitted to text messaging. Out of the sixty percent of teens that admitted to risky driving, almost half of them admitted to texting behind the wheel. One third of drivers ages twenty-four and younger text while on the road, and fifty percent of drivers between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four text while driving. Teenagers say that texting is their number one driver distraction.
One fifth of experienced adult drivers in the United States send text messages while driving. Out of the cell phone users that were surveyed, eighty-five percent of them said that they use their phones occasionally when driving. Another thirty percent use cell phones while driving on the highway, and twenty-seven percent uses them during half or more of trips that they take.