New distractions for drivers revealed in survey

Add social media, web surfing and video chatting to the list of common distractions for drivers according to a new survey from AT&T.

The poll, part of the telecommunication company's It Can Wait distracted driver campaign, shows 7-in-10 people are doing something with their smartphone while behind the wheel. Texting and checking e-mails were listed as two of the most popular activities.

But drivers are now checking Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or taking a selfie. Some are even participating in video chat while they drive.

“When we launched It Can Wait five years ago, we pleaded with people to realize that no text is worth a life,” said Lori Lee, AT&T’s global marketing officer. “The same applies to other smartphone activities that people are doing while driving. For the sake of you and those around you, please keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone.”

The survey also concludes that over half of drivers keep their phone within easy reach while driving. 22% of respondents cite an "addiction" as the reason they can't stay off social media.

New Jersey's "U drive, U Text, U Pay" distracted driving campaignf ound grooming, eating and drinking, watching a video and using a navigation system as other sources of distractions for drivers. "Because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction."

MORE COVERAGE:

• Some People Do More Than Text While Driving / New York Times