Ten Biggest Driving Distractions Revealed
Research by MoneySupermarket.com suggests that music is the biggest distraction for motorists in the UK, with 61% of the drivers surveyed admitting that they had been distracted while driving by changing their radio station, CD or even flicking through songs on their iPod.
The survey also highlight the fact that technology is becoming an increasing distraction for drivers, with texting and even updating Facebook making it onto the top ten list.
Ramifications
There are 16,485 motorists who are convicted of driving without due care in the UK every single year. Drivers who are convicted of such an offence are liable to have three points added to their license and might also be handed a £60 fine.
However, it is car insurance companies who will be responsible for the largest punishments. Having three points on a drivers licence increases the statistical likelihood of an accident occurring and a claim being made in the eyes of insurers. Most motorists would see their premiums rise by up to 30% with the addition of such an offence to their driving record. This would be particularly troublesome of young motorists under the age of 21, who are now regularly receiving quotes of more than £2,000.
Peter Harrison, MoneySupermarket.com car insurance expert, commented: “Although it may be unintentional, careless drivers are a menace on the roads and are a danger to both themselves and others. The penalties for this kind of behaviour are huge and can really impact on the cost of your insurance premiums. Not only are these bad driving habits, but also expensive habits if you are caught – it really isn’t worth taking the risk.”
Top ten distractions
The following is a list of driving distractions that were named most frequently by motorists surveyed:
1. Music- 61% of those surveyed admitted that they had been distracted while driving by changing the radio station or CD playing in their car, or even by flicking through songs on their iPod.
2. Food and drink- 51% of drivers said that they do eat and drink while behind the wheel. This seems to corroborate claims that an increasing number of drivers are now eating breakfast in their cars while driving to work. Indeed, a Facebook group has recently been set up based on this trend.
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