Even though texting while driving is illegal in Los Angeles, Samsung Mobile results of a local market survey revealed that not
only do 80 percent of Los Angeles cell phone users text but that
they're doing it everywhere.
According to CTIA, 4.1 billion text
messages are sent everyday and many Los Angeles residents surveyed admit
they have texted while at the doctor's office (55%), on public
transportation (51%), at the movies (39%), at concerts or
plays (33%), as well as in places some would consider to be
taboo, such as at the dinner table (39%), on dates (26%),
and in a house of worship (13%).
The California Highway Patrol issued almost 163,000 tickets to drivers talking on cell phones since
mid-2008. But has only cited 1,400 texting while driving violations since January.
Meanwhile, last night at a local Sizzler, we saw six officers from the L.A. County Sherrif's department to other police officers from a local city all looking at their phones, many of which were iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones. Therefore we can estimate that almost all police officers text while eating. You can check your local donut shop to make sure.
The following are other texting behaviors revealed in the local market
survey, and a national survey also by Samsung Mobile:
Staying In Touch Gets Easier
According to a national survey by Samsung Mobile, a majority of
Americans (73%) are using mobile phones to stay connected via
text, email or to update their social networking sites, and 64 percent
of them appreciate that they can get in touch with their friends without
having to actually talk to them on the phone. With access to text,
email, Instant Messaging and social networking sites, mobile phones keep
users connected more easily. Perhaps this is why those who actually use
their phones to do this say they can reach their contacts more quickly (61%)
and stay in touch on a more regular basis (60%).
Text Away My Troubles
As a true testament to the role text messages play in their busy lives, nearly
half (47%) of Los Angeles texters feel texting makes their daily
lives less complex. The text message carries so much weight that 81
percent of residents think texting has become the new email.
BTW, It Makes Things Easy
Another way Los Angeles residents are making communication simpler is by
using abbreviations in their messages, such as "how r u" in place of
"how are you." A majority (78%) admit they typically rely on this
technique when texting.