Well, this is worrying.
New research by Allianz reveals that 1 in 4 Irish drivers admit to being distracted by social media while driving.
Drivers between the ages of 18 to 34 are the most likely to take their eyes off the road as a result.
Here are some other key findings:
- 1 in 10 drivers have Googled something while driving
- The biggest offenders are aged between 18 and 34 years
- Social Media and smartphones can make it four times more likely you will crash, according to the Road Safety Authority
The research also cast light on a broad range of driving distractions that afflicted Irish motorists. Many said they were distracted by their own wandering thoughts. Others included that mobile phones interfered with their driving, 27% claimed pedestrians were distracting, 26% were distracted by surrounding scenery, while 20% blamed their car stereo for breaking their concentration.
“It is tempting to take your eyes off the road and give into distractions. However, we must remember last year the Road Safety Authority highlighted that driver distraction plays a role in 20-30% of all road collisions and is a significant contributory factor in over 1,400 fatal and injury collisions annually here in Ireland”, said CEO of Allianz Sean McGrath.
"Drivers need to prioritise road safety when behind the wheel. Please put the phone away and keep distractions to a minimum, if you find your thoughts and attention wandering, that may be a sign of fatigue, and you should take a break, such small steps could save your life", he added.
