Tens of millions of British drivers are enjoying a harmful sport of Russian roulette on the roads, with 11% admitting to texting whereas driving, stunning new analysis from household connection and security app Life360 reveals in the present day. Regardless of this widespread behavior, a whopping 96% of Brits contemplate themselves to be ‘cautious drivers’, exposing a stark nationwide hypocrisy on the subject of street security.
- A nation of ‘cautious’ drivers? New analysis reveals 11% of Brits commonly textual content whereas driving, but a staggering 96% nonetheless contemplate themselves to watch out drivers
- Dangerous enterprise: Drivers confess to watching movies (3%) and scrolling social media (3%), whereas 703,384 individuals (1%) even admitted to sexting whereas in command of a automobile
- “Are you there but?” The primary purpose for texting is to reassure family members, with drivers admitting they message to say they’re “on their approach” or to provide a location replace
- Don’t belief the motive force? Brits admit they belief their companions (16%) and youngsters (15%) the least behind the wheel
The analysis discovered that the first purpose for this dangerous behaviour is the need to reassure family members. One in twelve drivers (8%) admit to messaging household to allow them to know their whereabouts, both by texting “I’m on my approach” (6%) or updating them on their actual location (5%).
However the harmful distractions don’t cease at well-meaning messages. A jaw-dropping variety of drivers confessed to even riskier behaviours, with 3% saying they watch movies and scroll social media whereas behind the wheel. 703,384 individuals (1%) even admitted to sexting whereas driving, which is akin to the inhabitants of Sheffield’s city space.
Regional information from Life360’s Driver Experiences paints an much more worrying image:
- Birmingham drivers rank because the UK’s worst offenders for arduous braking and fast acceleration, a transparent signal of distracted or erratic driving, whereas Liverpool drivers offend the least.
- London holds the doubtful title of the ‘crash capital’ of the UK, with the very best variety of collisions detected by the app, adopted by Birmingham and Liverpool.
- In the meantime, London, Edinburgh and Newcastle have a necessity for velocity, clocking up probably the most dashing alerts nationwide. In truth, drivers in London are 37% extra prone to velocity than these in Sheffield and, unsurprisingly, 19–24-year-olds are persistently the almost certainly to speed up quickly throughout all areas.
Nevertheless, safer driving will be discovered elsewhere:
- Scotland leads the best way in accountable driving, with the bottom cellphone utilization per capita.
- In the meantime, Wales has the bottom Hazard Index total, adopted by Scotland.
The findings recommend drivers in Birmingham are the UK’s most distracted drivers on the street, with excessive scores throughout key dangerous behaviours, scoring extremely throughout crashes, arduous braking, dangerous driving, hazard index and acceleration, adopted intently by London and Newcastle.
When requested what they thought-about probably the most harmful driving behaviours, over 1 / 4 of Brits (28%) recognized messaging whereas driving – the very act many admit to doing themselves. Past telephones, drivers additionally cited noisy passengers (27%) and cheeky pets (6%) as main distractions.
This nationwide anxiousness across the security of family members is laid naked by who we belief the least on the roads. Our companions (16%) had been voted the least trusted drivers, intently adopted by our personal kids (15%).
The analysis comes as Life360 highlights how know-how can get rid of the temptation to textual content and drive. The app’s protected driving options enable households to see one another’s real-time location on a non-public map, with automated alerts notifying them when a liked one arrives safely at their vacation spot, eradicating the necessity for “I’m right here” texts.
Further options that assist hold members protected on the street embody Driver Experiences (that spotlight dangerous behaviour like arduous braking, dashing and cellphone use) Breakdown Help, Crash Detection (which is able to alert your Circle if a crash over 25mph is detected), and Emergency Companies Dispatch for when assist is required quick.
Already, virtually 1 / 4 of Brits (24%) use know-how to observe the situation or driving behaviour of family and friends. And the urge for food for it’s rising, with virtually a 3rd (32%) saying they’d use location-sharing tech to regulate family members, notably their kids (15%), to make sure they’re protected.
Annie Winterburn, main UK driving knowledgeable, feedback
“It’s clear that as a nation we nonetheless discover it arduous to withstand the urge to select up our telephones whereas driving, usually simply to let family members know the place we’re, regardless that everyone knows how harmful it may be.
That’s why it’s so vital to plan forward. Earlier than setting off, examine for site visitors updates and potential delays, seek the advice of a stay map to get an correct journey time, and share your location with pals or household to allow them to comply with your progress. Textual content them simply earlier than you permit to allow them to know you received’t be contactable whereas driving, and in the event you do must ship a message enroute, pull over someplace protected like a service station. Easy habits like placing your cellphone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ and ensuring it’s absolutely charged (or bringing an influence financial institution) may also assist take away the temptation to examine notifications.
With Life360’s safer driving options, your family members can see the place you’re in actual time – giving them peace of thoughts and serving to you keep targeted on the street. It’s a win-win for everybody.”
Annie offers her tips about safer driving:
- Verify forward of time for site visitors and potential street collisions to keep away from
- Seek the advice of a stay map to be able to gauge an correct journey time
- Share your location with family and friends forward of time
- Textual content your beloved(s) simply earlier than you set off and let the individual know you received’t be contactable for X period of time
- If it’s essential message while you’re in your approach, pull over someplace protected e.g. a service station and guarantee your cellphone is put safely away after
- Put your cellphone on Do Not Disturb to be able to make sure you’re not distracted by social media notifications and so on.
- Be sure you’ve bought loads of battery / a charger or an influence pack so that you don’t instantly cease sharing your location
- All the time use your cellphone hands-free in the event you’re making or receiving calls behind the wheel
