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Survey: 9.8 Percent Of SoCal Drivers Are Distracted

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Southern Californians are only slightly worse than the rest of the nation when it comes to talking on a telephone or texting while driving, according to a survey released Wednesday by the state Office of Traffic Safety.

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"This study is highly significant for California," OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy said. "It gives us a base to measure against in years to come as we combat this serious threat to safety on our roadways."

A federal study in 2009 showed that about 9 percent of drivers nationwide were talking on cell phones or texting while driving.

The state's study, billed as the first-ever observational study, was conducted in March. It showed that 9.8 percent of Southern Californians are yakking or texting.

In suburban areas, the numbers were typically higher and about 12 percent of Central Californians were observed talking or texting.

In Northern California, the figure was 6.9 percent.

The study included 130 intersections in 17 counties. Observers took notes on 5,413 drivers holding phones to their ears, wearing a Bluetooth or headset device or those who were texting.

In the first half of April, dubbed Distracted Driving Awareness Month, at least 20,455 drivers were ticketed for holding phones to their ears while driving or texting. Fines range from $159 for a first offense to $279 for a repeat offense.

"This shows how ingrained the use of mobile devices has become. Even faced with laws, studies and stories of tragedy, too many are not able to put down their cell phones," California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow said.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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