Motorists appear to be torn when it comes to texting while driving.
While most people seem to recognize the inherent risks involved, two recent motorist surveys show a surprising percentage of drivers still participate in the dangerously distracting activity.
Last week, TeleNav Inc. released the findings of its survey showing that while 89 percent of drivers believe texting should be illegal while driving, roughly one-quarter of respondents said they had sent at least one text message while driving per week.
"Men seem to be the most heavy texters with 36 percent of those who text while driving indicating they send an average of seven or more texts per week while on the road," the company said in releasing its findings. "In contrast, only 23 percent of women admitted to texting as frequently."
It is not known what the margin of error is in the findings, but TeleNav spokesman Todd Witkemper said the survey sample of 502 U.S. drivers was evenly divided between men and women, and the number was statistically significant.
TeleNav is one of the leading developers of GPS navigation for mobile phones.
In June, the Pew Internet & American Life Project released findings of a survey that found 27 percent of American adults admitted they had sent or read text messages while driving. In fact, adults were just as likely as teens to text while driving, the Pew survey found.
The Pew findings — based on a telephone survey of 2,252 U.S. adults — also found that three of four adults who own cell phones acknowledged talking on a cell phone while driving.
Half of the adults who took part in the Pew survey reported being in a car with a driver who was sending or reading text messages while on their cell phone.
What does this all mean?
It means that the U.S. Department of Transportation and road-safety advocates have their work cut out for them in curbing this brand of distracted driving.
Q. Who is responsible for debris on the highways in St. Louis? My vehicle is riddled with damage from just about anything, and when I try to work through the local police agencies to file reports, none will take responsibility. Just a few weeks ago, I hit a tire on Interstate 270 in Bellefontaine Neighbors. Thankfully, the only damage was to plastic parts to my car, and major systems were not affected. I am terrified that one day my luck will run out and debris will go right through my windshield.
— Jim Callahan
Nobody is technically responsible for the highway debris, although the Missouri Department of Transportation attempts to clear it from the driving lanes. MoDOT spokeswoman Kara Price said motorists should report dangerous debris to 1-888-ASK-MODOT. MoDOT discourages people from clearing debris from the highway themselves. If your vehicle has been damaged, you can report it to MoDOT and may be directed to the agency's risk management department, Price said.
Q. I have noticed that when an interstate is down to one lane for construction, the crews working in the closed lane are often cutting out rectangular pieces of concrete, and then adding rebar and repouring the same pavement. Sometimes there are three or more repours in less than a mile. I travel a lot in Illinois and Wisconsin, and it seems to be more prevalent there than Missouri. Can you explain what they are doing?
— Bill Brown, High Ridge
What you are seeing is concrete patching, said Ted Nemsky, construction engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation in Collinsville. The degree of the repair, of course, depends on the extent of the damage. Potholes require only a surface patch, while more significant pavement failure requires a more extensive fix.
Q. With all of the construction and changes in our area, I am wondering why, at Antler Drive and Brentwood Boulevard, the city has not updated that intersection? It is still one way! Why can't one turn left onto Antler from Burger King and make a yielding right turn onto Brentwood Boulevard? I personally won't chance getting a ticket so I drive around to the shopping area and make my right there. It just seems that that little piece could be changed from being "one way," and I am surprised Burger King hasn't initiated the change for their many customers.
— Marilyn
Antler has been one way there for at least 20 years, and the city of Richmond Heights has no interest in making it a two-way street because it wouldn't work in that location, Public Works Director Bruce Murray tells Ride. It is too close to highway exits, and St. Louis County is not in favor of it. In the meantime, Burger King patrons have two options to go north on Brentwood. First, they can use the driveway to make a direct right onto Brentwood. Second, they can make a right on Antler, then a left and follow the road to Darst Court to get back to Brentwood. This second option, however, requires cutting through a commercial parking lot.
