A recent report released by Pew Internet indicates that adults might not always have the moral high ground when it comes to advising teens not to use their cellular phones whilst driving.

The report reveals that one in four American adults (27%) have used their mobile phones to send a message while driving, the same proportion as the number of driving age teens (26%) who say they have done the same.

In addition, 61% of adults confessed to speaking on their cell phones while behind the wheel. That is considerably greater than the number of 16- and 17-year-olds (43%) who have talked on their mobile phones while driving.

Pew Internet’s report also found that 49% of adults say they have been passengers in a car when the driver was sending or reading text messages on their cellphone. Overall, 44% of adults say they have been passengers of drivers who used the cellphone in a way that put themselves or others in danger.

Worse still one in six (17%) cell-toting adults say they have been so distracted while talking or texting that they have physically bumped into another person or an object. That amounts to 14% of all American adults who have been so engrossed in talking, texting or otherwise using their cell phones that they have collided with something or someone.

Although there is no confirmation that local trends mirror those uncovered by Pew Internet it seems likely that South African drivers are engaging in similar behaviour.