Half of teens say they've driven under the influence of cellphones
About half of teens ages 16 and 17 who have cellphones say they have talked on the phone while driving, and about a third of those teens have texted while behind the wheel.
Boys and girls are equally likely to report texting when they drive a vehicle.
These are among the findings of a national poll of 800 teens, ages 12 to 17, conducted this summer by the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project.
There is a large body of evidence on the dangers of inattention and distraction when driving, including using cellphones, says Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist with Pew. Some studies indicate that talking on a cellphone is more distracting than talking to a passenger in the car, she says.
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