DISTRACTION: Sat navs a big cause for disruption
Children in the car are the number one distraction for drivers, research by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and Vision Critical has revealed.
A sizeable 29% of motorists admit their children are the biggest concentration-buster, with changing radio station (27%), mobile phone use (24%) and back seat drivers (26%) following.
Using satellite navigation (15%), texting (10%) and social media (10%) were also close behind.
The IAM say the findings are worrying, as the study also revealed 9% of drivers admitted they have crashed because they were distracted.
Police statistics show that mobile phone use and other distractions were a factor in up to 105 deaths on UK roads last year.
Simon Best, Chief Executive of the IAM, said: “People who think they can multi-task while driving are kidding themselves.
“If you take your eyes of the road for just two seconds at 30mph, you’ll travel close to 90ft, effectively blind.
“All drivers develop bad habits over time.
“The key to reducing distractions and their impact is to learn to look upon your driving as a skill that needs continuous evaluation and improvement.”
