Almost half of younger drivers distracted by smartphone apps, ipods and email while driving

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28 September 2011 at 00:01

iPods(24%), email (23%) and mapping apps (22%) are the main distraction for younger drivers. One quarter of drivers now consider mobile phone usage a bigger issue than drink driving.

The problem of smartphone use among young drivers (18-24) has reached staggering new levels, according to research from the 2011 RAC Report on Motoring.

Nearly a half (48%) of this age group admitted using their phone while driving. The most common distraction was for music (24%), followed by emails (23%) and Google maps (22%) A further 15% said they talk to friends using Blackberry Messenger or other similar services. Fifteen percent tweet behind the wheel, while an astonishing 8% even admitted to playing games on their smartphone. Texting is also a problem on the rise for younger drives. Over a fifth (21%) admitted to texting while driving in 2011, compared to just 14% in 2010.

In car distractions are a problem among all ages however the issue appears to be particularly acute among the young. The table below gives a comparison between 18-24 year olds and all drivers: 

Apps used while driving	All Drivers	Younger Drivers (18-24)
Using Google/other maps	9%	22%
Sending/reading emails	9%	23%
Listening to an iPod/music	8%	24%
Using Blackberry/Instant Messenger	6%	15%
Using Twitter	3%	11%
Playing games	3%	8%

The findings within the Report on Motoring also indicate that mobile phone use behind the wheel is accelerating across all ages. When questioned, 12% of motorists admitted they receive or make calls non-hands free while driving in 2011, compared to just 8% in 2010¹.

For some motorists, checking their phone on the move is impossible to resist. According to the Report on Motoring, 13% of drivers would always read and/or respond to a text message while driving and 15% would answer some or all calls they received without a hands-free kit. Younger drivers were again more likely to respond to their phones while on the move. One quarter (24%) would read text messages while behind the wheel and 10% would read social media alerts. A further 5% would read and respond to these alerts.

Yet drivers overwhelmingly agree that using a phone behind the wheel is dangerous (82%), although, worryingly, 14% agree that they feel ‘confident and safe’ doing so.

The research also suggests that, for many, the use of mobile phones behind the wheel has become a bigger road safety issue than drink-driving. Twenty five percent of motorists disagreed with the notion that ‘drink driving is a bigger road safety issue than mobile usage’².

Motorists have strong opinions on how to tackle in-car phone usage, with only 10% believing the current system of punishment works well. Two-thirds (69%) want to see a ‘3 strikes’ rule introduced whereby drivers caught using their phone three times would lose their license for a year. And over half (53%) would like to see an increase in the number of points awarded to a driver’s license if caught.  

Adrian Tink, RAC Motoring Strategist, said: “Drivers using handheld mobile phones is still an all too common sight, and one that appears to be getting worse. The popularity of smartphones and apps, especially among younger drivers who’ve grown up with the technology, risks creating a new generation of drivers who believe using a phone behind the wheel is acceptable. This has to change.

“At 70mph your car travels around the length of 6 double decker busses every 2 seconds – if someone told you to close your eyes at that speed for that length of time you’d think they were crazy – yet people are doing virtually the same thing by taking their eyes of the road to look at phones.

“The fact that a quarter of motorists now believe this issue is on a par with drink-driving proves that awareness is growing, but it still lacks the taboo of drink-driving.

“Sustained education and public awareness campaigns have turned drink-driving into a socially unacceptable offence – we need to do the same for using handheld mobile phones behind the wheel.  RAC is calling for social media companies to take the lead on this, working with Government and road safety campaigners to educate the public before it’s too late. 80% of motorists want better education on this issue. It needs to happen now.”

- Ends -

Notes to editors

¹ The 2011 RAC Report on Motoring surveyed 1,002 motorists (i.e. those who hold a current driving licence and drive at least once a month). The research was conducted in February and March 2011, with the questionnaire taking around 20 minutes to complete.

² Supplementary research to the 2011 RAC Report on Motoring was carried out on in-car distractions in August 2011 by Redshift Research who questioned 2,000 motorists

Electronic copies of the report can be downloaded from www.rac.co.uk/reportonmotoring

For further information please contact:

John Franklin, RAC Press Office, 01603 680 795, john.s.franklin@aviva.co.uk

Joe Dawes, Hill & Knowlton, 0207 413 3122, joe.dawes@hillandknowlton.com

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