NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Driver Cell Phone Use and Texting Now Among Top Social Issues Concerning Americans, Survey Reports

According to the research, 88 percent of Americans surveyed reported they are generally "concerned" about cell phone use and texting while driving, and 33 percent said they are "very concerned" about the issue, placing the issue among the top 10 concerns cited by survey respondents.

"This finding is especially notable because the survey asked respondents to differentiate between social issues that generally concern them and those issues that concern them a great deal," said Bob Kenney, Context Marketing principal. "The results show that the issue of distracted driving has really captured the attention of Americans today."

According to study findings, the top 10 issues about which Americans say they are "very concerned" include: saving for retirement and healthcare access and affordability (both 46%), excessive government spending and debt (45%), the unemployment rate (40%), drunk driving (38%), privacy concerns and identity theft (37%), dependence on foreign oil (34%), quality of public education and cell phone use and texting while driving (both 33%), illegal immigration (31%), offshoring of U.S. jobs (30%) and safety of the food supply (29%).

" Not surprisingly, concern about this issue varies considerably by age," said Kenney. "Fifty percent of the adults in the 50 to 64 age group said they were 'very concerned' compared with 18 percent in the 20 to 29 age group and 31 percent of those 30 to 49."

The survey provided participants with a list of 28 social issues currently in the news and asked them to identity their level of concern for each issue. Research was conducted online during September 2009 and included 600 adults between the ages of 20 and 64 living in major U.S. markets. Most respondents are married or live with a partner and hold at least a college degree; half have a household income of $75,000 or more.

Context Marketing is a San Francisco Bay Area firm that tracks and analyzes societal issues and trends. For more information: www.contextmarketing.com

Context Marketing
Bob Kenney, 415-289-7575
bkenney@contextmarketing.com