Survey: Rochester Drivers Are Distracted
By: Caroline Tucker
Updated: September 21, 2012
Rochester drivers have been caught - a local survey shows that people who live in the flour city are distracted behind the wheel because of their cell phones - even though it's against the law.
The Ad Council of Rochester surveyed drivers during the winter and then observed more than 11,000 of them at busy intersections throughout the Rochester region this summer.
They found some alarming trends.
They report that more than 25-percent of people admitted to texting while driving, within the last month of the survey.
That's higher than the national average of 18-percent.
And one in three people admitted to talking on a cell phone while driving.
Some drivers say they can't shake the temptation.
"On occasion I know that I am busy and the only time I can connect with people is when I am driving so I will make the occasional phone call or take a text if I think it is important," said Conrad Smith, a distracted driver.
The Ad Council of Rochester plans to roll out a new campaign in the next month to help combat distracted driving.
"Putting together a holistic community strategy of how do we motivate people to change their behavior when they are currently not doing so even though they have identified a problem," said Katelin Ryan, Director of Communications for the Ad Council of Rochester.
News 8/FOX Rochester also has a no text and drive pledge you can find here on rochesterhomepage.net.
