Half of UK drivers continue to text and drive

Management - Features

Thursday, 28 February 2008

A survey of 2,000 Facebook users has revealed that 45 per cent of UK drivers use short message services (SMS) whilst driving.

New corporate manslaughter laws coming into force this spring mean that employers can be held responsible if staff cause an accident by keeping in touch with colleagues and clients while driving.

First anniversary

Only 11 per cent of motorists turn off their phones or switch them to mute, however, leaving 89 per cent of drivers open to the distractions caused by mobile phones.

The survey marks the first anniversary of the increase in penalties for using a hand-held phone at the wheel.

Motorists now receive a £60 fine and 3 penalty points for using their mobile phone whilst driving, which includes texting and driving.

It was discovered in the survey that the young and techno savvy were more likely to text and drive in congested parts of the country, and that the level of texting whilst driving differs throughout the UK.

It is highest in London (53 per cent), and Manchester (50 per cent), and lowest in Aberdeen (31 per cent), Edinburgh (36 per cent), Bristol (36 per cent) and Glasgow (38 per cent).

Multi-tasking maestros

The survey has identified five distinct groups of texting drivers on UK roads.

Multi-tasking multimedia maestros account for 21 per cent of all motorists. This group read and send texts in free flowing traffic.

Dominated by techno savvy men aged 18-24, who regard the phone as a bionic add-on, this group consider texting to be an almost automatic reaction.

The highest proportion of multi-tasking multimedia maestros can be found in Manchester (26 per cent), London, Wales and Leeds (all 25 per cent).

Opportunistic optimisers include 19 per cent of drivers who read and/or send text messages when they are stuck in a jam.

The delay itself may prompt people to text, for instance to let others know they are going to be late.

Women are more likely than men to make up this group although membership decreases with age. This texting approach was by far the most common in London (24 per cent).

Non-reactive realists

Non-reactive realists form 44 per cent of all motorists. They will not text whilst driving, but will leave their phone audible.

Phone alerts may distract the driver or encourage them to alter their driving plan - i.e. stop to read the text -, which could create road safety problems, especially if they stop to view a text at an inappropriate location.

Women are most likely to be non-reactive realists although membership to this group increases with age for both sexes.

Drivers in Glasgow (51 per cent), the West Midlands (51 per cent) and Bristol (51 per cent) are most likely to be in this category.

Casual observers account for a mere 5 per cent of the driving population. These drivers read their texts in moving traffic, but would not consider responding or sending messages whilst driving.

This activity is most common in Manchester (7 per cent), Glasgow (7 per cent) and Newcastle (6 per cent).

Avoid distractions

Trendsetting team players make up 11 per cent of drivers. They responsibly switch off their phones or put them on mute to avoid distractions.

Women are marginally more likely than men to fall into this category. Motorists in Aberdeen (19 per cent), Edinburgh (16 per cent) are particularly conscientious about these safety measures.

Elizabeth Dainton, research development manager for the RAC Foundation, said that the survey clearly demonstrated that a large proportion of UK drivers were breaking the law by texting and driving.

She added that many young people may not be aware that it is illegal to text and drive and how it places them and other road users in potential danger.

Four times more likely to crash

The RAC said that urgent action was needed to address this increasing problem, especially as the 'Y' generation, who have grown up with technology and computers, begin to take to the road.

"It is really hard to do two things at once. Using a mobile phone whilst driving means you are four times more likely to have a crash. If you have an accident whilst texting and driving, you can be prosecuted for not using due care and attention,” Dainton said.

The RAC Foundation warned that motorists should switch off their mobile phones when driving or put them on silent mode.

“It takes away the temptation to read or reply to a text message whilst on the move. Messages can easily be picked up at the end of the journey or during a break. Master your phone - don't be a slave to the SMS,” Dainton concluded.