19 Oct, 2011
Research by Confused.com reveals a new safety threat to UK roads…motorists and their not-so-smart phones.
- Nearly 40% of drivers admit to using their phones whilst driving
- Almost half of motorists ensure that they can see their phone when behind the wheel
- Over one fifth (23%) of UK drivers check their phones every 15 minutes or more
- Nearly half (45%) of car owners get agitated when they receive incoming calls or texts behind the wheel
- Confused.com provides motorists with free app to help curb the Twitter twitchers when driving
Research released today by Confused.com reveals that UK drivers prioritise their social lives before saving lives on the road(1). Almost half 40% (38.95%) of motorists check their phones whilst driving, with 27% admitting to logging onto Facebook behind the wheel. The car insurance expert also found that nearly half (45%) will not start their journey unless they can see their phone. A lethal combination considering that drivers are four times more likely to crash when using a mobile phone(2).
The increasing popularity of Facebook and Twitter means that the ‘Twitch Factor’ is on the rise, with one fifth of motorists not being able to last more than 15 minutes without checking their phones. 15% of workaholic motorists take advantage of time stuck in traffic to catch up on their work calls or emails, and over one fifth (21%) update their status whilst caught behind a red light.
Surprisingly, although 75% of motorists are aware of the penalty for being on their phone behind the wheel, 60% of them still answer their phone when they’re driving. The ignorance of drivers suggests a harsher penalty should be introduced, with over 50% of motorists supporting this idea.
Adrian Walsh, Director of RoadSafe says: "It's a frightening thought that people are checking their smartphones whilst driving. Many studies from across the world prove that drivers using phones are slower to respond than those who are just over the drink-drive limit. It is dangerous to use a phone – even hands free when driving."
To encourage drivers to stop using their phones while on the road, Confused.com have teamed up with iSpeech, creators of the iPhone app ‘DriveSafe.ly ®’. The app speaks email, SMS, Facebook and Twitter messages aloud and lets you respond by voice allowing drivers to concentrate on the road and stop texting while driving.
Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com says: “Our research shows that although people are aware of the consequences involved, they struggle to tear themselves away from their mobile phones and social media. Using these devices while driving is incredible dangerous and app’s such as DriveSafe.ly which are designed to protect drivers should be welcomed.”
For a free download of ‘DriveSafe.ly’ visit: http://www.confused.com/driving-apps
For more information please contact James Duffy or Rob Haycocks at the Confused.com press office at Cake on 0207 307 3100 or confused@cakegroup.co.uk
-Ends-
Notes to Editors
A recent study from the Texas A&M University (August 2011)(3) has shown how much text based activities like Facebook and Twitter can effect driving reactions, with reaction times being more than doubled, and that motorists that were texting were actually 11 times more likely to miss an obstruction altogether.
Advice:
• Don’t make or answer calls when driving
• Park safely before using your phone
• Don’t call other people when they’re driving
• It’s illegal to use a hand-held mobile when driving even if stopped at traffic lights, stuck in a traffic jam or in a car park
• The maximum penalty for using a phone when driving is 3 points on your licence, and up to a £60 fine
Source: http://think.direct.gov.uk/mobile-phones.html
About Confused.com
Confused.com is one of the UK’s biggest and most popular price comparison services. Launched in 2002, it generates over one million quotes per month. It has expanded its range of comparison products over the last couple of years to include home insurance, travel insurance, pet insurance, van insurance, motorbike insurance, breakdown cover and energy, as well as financial services products including credit cards, loans, mortgages and life insurance.
Confused.com is not a supplier, insurance company or broker. It provides a free, objective and unbiased comparison service.
By using cutting-edge technology, it has developed a series of intelligent web-based solutions that evaluate a number of risk factors to help customers with their decision-making, subsequently finding them great deals on a wide-range of insurance products, financial services, utilities and more. Confused.com’s service is based on the most up-to-date information provided by UK suppliers and industry regulators.
Confused.com is owned by the Admiral Group plc. Admiral listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004. Confused.com is regulated by the FSA.
1. Research conducted by OnePoll for Confused.com with a survey base of 2,000 motorists.
2. Source: http://think.direct.gov.uk/mobile-phones.html
3. ‘An Investigation of the Effects of Reading and Writing Text-Based Messages While Driving’ by Joel Cooper, Christine Yager and Susan Chrysler of The Texas A&M University.
