55% of Russians text when driving

More than half of Russian drivers admit to reading and sending text messages when driving, losing only to Italians on the popularity of the dangerous habit, according to a poll released on Monday. Fifty-five percent of Russians text from behind the wheel, compared to 61 percent of Italian drivers, according to a survey organized by TNS Research International UK for Ford Europe. The poll covered 5,500 drivers in six European countries, including Britain, France, Germany and Spain. No margin of error was provided. Britons turned out to be the most safety-conscious drivers, with only 33 percent of British respondents admitting to texting and driving. The figure stood at 40 percent in Spain and 49 percent in both France and Germany. Ninety-five percent of all respondents acknowledged that text messaging during driving is dangerous, the report said.