Research conducted by Ford as part of its Driving Skills for Life programme has revealed a startling number of young drivers admit to having taken a ‘selfie’ while driving.
According to the Europe-wide survey of 7,000 smartphone users aged between 18 and 24 one in four have used social media sites while behind the wheel despite agreeing it is highly dangerous, and found that young male drivers are the most likely to ignore the risks.
Worryingly, UK drivers fared worst with 33 per cent having taken a ‘selfie’, a photograph of themselves, while driving, followed by 28 per cent in both Germany and France, 27 per cent in Romania, 26 per cent in Italy, 18 per cent in Spain, and the sensible Belgian’s almost half as likely to take risk with a score of 17 per cent.
Ford estimate taking a ‘selfie’ behind the wheel could distract a driver for 14sec, while checking social media can distract for as much as 20sec which at 60mph is long enough to travel the length of five football pitches.
Ford rolled out its Driving Skills for Life in Europe last year to offer addition training for 18-24-year-olds in an effort to reduce the number of car accident fatalities, the leading cause of death for young drivers. Hands-on sessions in the UK will take place in Glasgow on September 18-20, Gaydon on October 4-5, and Chobham in Surrey on October 7-9, with the programme in part covering the dangers of taking a ‘selfie’ or checking social media while driving. Attendees will undertake slow speed manoeuvres while taking a ‘selfie’, on the safety of a closed facility and with a professional instructor beside them, to fully demonstrate the dangers.
Jim Graham, manager of Ford’s Driving Skills for Life said: “Taking a ‘selfie’ has for many young people quickly become an integral part of everyday life – but it’s the last thing you should be doing behind the wheel of a car. It is deeply worrying that so many young drivers admit to taking a photo while driving and we will be doing all we can to highlight the potential dangers through driver education.”
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