19/04/2011
Adjusting the car stereo, shaving and putting on make-up are just some of the distractions drivers have admitted to in a survey.
The poll of 1,000 drivers by Santander Insurance revealed some risky behaviour behind the wheel, including kissing a passenger and reading a book.
Such behaviour puts not only the driver but passengers and other road users at a higher risk of accidents and costly claims to their car insurance providers.
In fact, 11 per cent of male respondents and 5 per cent of females admitted they'd had an accident in the past due to being distracted.
Almost a third of men and a fifth of women said they had experienced a near miss through such distractions as adjusting the car stereo, eating or consuming soft drinks.
Other distractions include talking on hand-held mobile phones and map reading.
Although 96 per cent acknowledged that texting while driving was the most dangerous behaviour, around 20 per cent admitted doing it themselves.
While most drivers expressed anger at seeing other motorists' unsafe behaviour, three quarters of those surveyed confessed to their own distracted-driving actions.
Santander Insurance director Colin Greenhill said: "Clearly, motorists understand their risky behaviours are dangerous but many take their eyes off the road to do something other than driving.
"Concentrating on the road ahead is essential and drivers should adhere to this, regardless of how 'important' their other task may be."
