Global survey finds three-quarters of drivers use mobiles at the wheel

A global survey from LeasePlan – one of the world’s largest vehicle management groups – reveals that nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of drivers admit to using their mobile phone behind the wheel, one-fifth (20 per cent) claim to send text messages and almost one-in-ten (9 per cent) admit to using social media.

The Department for Transport (DfT) figures show that a driver impaired or distracted by their phone was a contributory factor in 492 accidents in Britain in 2014, including 21 that were fatal. Last month, the government announced tougher sanctions for motorists caught using their mobile phone behind the wheel, including automatically receiving six points on their licence instead of the current three and on-the-spot fines will be doubled from £100 to £200.

However, out of the 17 countries and nearly 5,000 motorists questioned in LeasePlan’s MobilityMonitor survey, motorists in the UK appear to be more aware of the dangers of driver distractions. British drivers are least likely to use their mobile for social media behind the wheel (3 per cent) compared to over one-fifth (22 per cent) of motorists in the Netherlands who ranked the highest, followed by Hungary (14 per cent).

Motorists in the UK are also the third least likely in the world – behind the USA (34 per cent) and India (36 per cent) – to use their phone for making calls whilst driving (43 per cent), compared to Denmark (90 per cent) who ranked the highest, closely followed by Sweden (89 per cent) and Norway (88 per cent).

Globally, Generation-X (those born between 1965- 1981) drivers appear to see less danger in multitasking whilst driving, as over one-fifth (21 per cent) admit to sending a text or message at the wheel, in comparison to just 10 per cent of Baby-boomers (those born between 1946 – 1964) who claim to be doing the same.

Additional results from LeasePlan’s global MobilityMonitor Survey reveal that over one-third (35 per cent) of drivers admit to eating, with drivers from the Netherlands being the worst culprits (61 per cent), 68 per cent of drivers say they drink behind the wheel, 2 per cent apply makeup, 5 per cent read and 2 per cent of Slovakian’s admit to shaving whilst driving.

The data, collected between 21st April and 24th May 2016, was gleaned from 4,869 respondents across Europe, Australia, the USA and India.

One-fifth (20 per cent) of those questioned in LeasePlan’s MobilityMonitor survey believe the use of a mobile phone whilst driving is the biggest cause of car accidents on the road.

Talking about the dangers of multitasking behind the wheel, Lesley Slater, LeasePlan UK’s Operations and Business Development Director, comments: “It is encouraging to see that UK drivers appear to have a higher level of awareness around the dangers of mobile phone use when driving, but studies continue to show that driving ability is clearly impaired if motorists do use their phone.

“The number of incidents now related to mobile technology and other distractions at the wheel, along with the number of people who chose to ignore current rules and laws, means that driver attitudes will have to change, particularly amongst younger people.”