New research shows too many drivers use their phones behind the wheel. Almost half 40% (38.95%) of motorists actually check their phones whilst driving, with 27% admitted to logging onto Facebook behind the wheel. Almost half (45%) will not start their journey unless they can see their phone. Knowing that drivers are four times more likely to crash when using a mobile phone these findings are extremely concerning.
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 workcalls 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.
At Vamco we see many cases of car accidents caused by drivers using mobile phones and have made many successful claims against them. Using a phone while driving is a criminal offence and can give rise to fines and penalty points.