Study highlights the danger of selfies while driving | Motoring Issues - Car News Jul 2015

MOTORING ISSUES
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09:54 Friday 24 Jul 2015

UK motorists are putting both their licences and their lives on the line by using their phones and tablets to take selfies, make video calls, and watch videos while driving.

Those are the findings of road safety campaign group the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), who polled 500 drivers about their habits and were shocked to discover almost one-in-ten had taken a selfie at the wheel in the last month. The figure for the 18-24 age group was 15 per cent, rising even higher – to 19 per cent – for 25-35 year olds. Men were more than twice as likely as women to risk their safety by taking a selfie while driving.

Eight per cent of respondents admitted they had made a video call while driving, with the figure doubling for those aged 18-24. Seven per cent admitted to watching videos or streaming catch-up television at the wheel, and 18 per cent had accessed the internet on their smartphone or tablet while driving. However, the number of drivers hit with penalty points for using a smartphone at the wheel dropped by 40 per cent last year.

The IAM found the figures even more disturbing considering a study commission by the organisation back in 2012 found using a smartphone at the wheel to be more dangerous than driving at the legal alcohol limit or while under the influence of cannabis. Trying to drive while using a smartphone saw drivers’ reactions times increase and their ability to stay in lane impaired.

Sarah Sillars, Chief Executive of the IAM, said: “Everyone knows how dangerous using a smartphone or tablet is while driving. That’s why it’s shocking to see new trends like taking selfies and making video calls becoming common practice.

“Campaigns must be introduced that raise awareness of the prevalence of the issue in society and make this behaviour socially unacceptable as drink-driving”.


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