AT&T has launched a free no-texting-while-driving application as the US telecoms giant reveals the extent of technology addiction.A new survey commissioned by the firm and Dr David Greenfield, founder of The Center for Internet and Technology Addiction and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, found that three in four people admit to at least glancing at their phones while behind the wheel.

And although over 90% say they know texting and driving is dangerous, many rationalise their texting-and-driving behaviour – a classic sign of addiction, according to Dr Greenfield. Nearly three in ten said they could easily do several things at once, even while driving. ‘However, many objective studies show that’s not possible,’ added Dr Greenfield.

‘We compulsively check our phones because every time we get an update through text, email or social media, we experience an elevation of dopamine, which is a neurochemical in the brain that makes us feel happy,’ said Dr Greenfield. ‘If that desire for a dopamine fix leads us to check our phones while we’re driving, a simple text can turn deadly.’

According to the research, those who are most likely to text and drive are also the most likely to take steps to stop. And 82% of people who take action to stop texting and driving feel good about themselves.

The study, which forms part of the Texting & Driving … It Can Wait campaign, was released as AT&T focuses on ways to circumvent the problem, including the launch of the AT&T DriveMode app for iPhone, which is now available on the App Store and is said to be the first free no-texting-while-driving application offered by a major US wireless carrier that works on the iPhone.

The app silences incoming text message alerts, turns on automatically when one drives 15mph or more and turns off shortly after one stops. When activated, it automatically responds to incoming SMS and MMS text messages so the sender knows the text recipient is driving. It also allows parents with young drivers to receive a text message if the app is turned off.