Ordinary things drivers do every day like talking to passengers and daydreaming have been found to be the biggest cause of driving mistakes ahead of more obviously dangerous distractions, reveals new research by the RAC. In total, more than six-in-10 (63%) surveyed said they made a mistake on the roads as a result of being distracted by internal or external … [Read more...]
Apps can be shortcut to accidents
Driver distraction is linked to 13.6% of major traffic incidents and include using so-called 'safe' apps in dashboard or fixed phone systems. The International Drivers Association team has been looking at the situation and found even apps deemed 'safe' for driving could contribute to driver distraction. The one report says, "a two-second distraction can … [Read more...]
At-work drivers slammed for drink and drug use
The UK’s leading road safety charity, IAM RoadSmart, has expressed concerns around the percentage of at-work drivers who believe it’s acceptable to drive under the influence of drink and drugs. Research carried out by IAM RoadSmart, which surveyed the safety attitudes and behaviours of 2,010 UK motorists, found 31 per cent of those driving for work believe … [Read more...]
Newslines 3 October
Churchill Motor Insurance reveals the most common ways in which having children in the car negatively affects parents driving, with more than 4.7 million parents blaming their children for bad driving. One in nine (11 per cent) parents takes their eyes off the road to tend to their children and the same proportion (11 per cent) find that looking in the … [Read more...]
Video calling is latest driving hazard
The rise in popularity of the likes of FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Snapchat for video calls is posing a new and present danger on roads. Amost one-in-five (18%) of drivers aged 17-24 admit taking part in video calls while behind the wheel, figures for the RAC Report on Motoring 2020 reveal. Younger drivers are more than twice as likely to … [Read more...]
Lessons in safely living on the roads
With fortunate students about to embark on their university courses, some will be facing their first autumn and winter behind the wheel and it’s worth repeating some good advice from Richard Gladman, IAM RoadSmart’s Head of Driving and Riding Standards. “Our driving habits start being set from the moment we venture out alone after passing our driving test, … [Read more...]
Hazards ahead so keep yourself focussed
As the Met Office predicts snow and below average temperatures this December, designated drivers for the party season are being urged to plan ahead and plan how to handle the distraction of noisy passengers. In car distractions led to over 4000 road casualties last year and there were 7 fatalities a month on average over the past 3 years caused by in car … [Read more...]
Wheelie bins and dead animals used to steal cars
Wheelie bins and dead animals are being used to steal cars. The recent rise in car thefts in Britain could be due to a worrying upsurge in car-jackings according to AX, provider of vehicle protection technologies and replacement vehicles. Home Office statistics reveal thefts of vehicles to be at a 10-year high – to over 110,000 incidents in the year to … [Read more...]
Avoid being driven to distraction
IAM RoadSmart has called for businesses to urgently tackle the issue of distracted drivers at the wheel and overhaul their safety at work policies – to help stem the tide of avoidable crashes on our roads. The UK’s biggest independent road safety charity has just published a white paper called Driving While Distracted: Challenges and Solutions, which … [Read more...]
Driven to distraction by the daily commute
The daily commute can often get repetitive and could tempt you to look to your car for entertainment. A favourite song may come to mind or even the thought of calling someone from a hand held mobile phone to pass time. Here are some driving tips to avoid distractions from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman. Most … [Read more...]
