PRESS RELEASE: Continental Tyres
Written: Monday 6th July, 2009
DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION
NEWS COPY - WITH PICTURES
The average driver only concentrates fully on the road ahead for TWO THIRDS of their journey, it was revealed yesterday (Sun).
A study found six out of ten motorists 'zone out' for huge chunks of their trip due to distractions such as tuning the radio, talking to passengers and admiring the countryside.
And with the average journey lasting 45 minutes that means drivers spend 17 minutes day-dreaming or carrying out distracting tasks instead of keeping their eyes on the road.
Yesterday Guy Frobisher, Director of Safety at Continental Tyres, which polled 4,000 drivers, said: ''These statistics are really worrying.
''When driving, so much can happen in front of you in just a few seconds that you need to be able to react quickly so you can break safely.
''If you're not paying attention and can't brake in time, then an accident is much more likely to happen.''
The study found motorists only spend 67 per cent of their daily journey with their eyes fixed fully on the road ahead.
Worryingly, six out of ten said they often struggled to recall parts of their daily commute once they have arrived at their destination.
And more than half (51 per cent) said they switched to 'auto-pilot mode' on their journey to work or on long motorway trips.
It also emerged the average driver will make three trips in their car each day and be distracted at least three times on each journey for at least four seconds.
Almost half said they have either crashed or come close to crashing after being distracted whilst behind the wheel.
One in four admitted being a poor driver but blamed their short attention span.
Four in ten admitted being disinterested in the road ahead and not being able to concentrate for more than half an hour.
Guy Frobisher added: ''Our fast-paced lives can mean little time to fit everything in, but driving is no time for multi-tasking.
''Our advice is to avoid distractions like eating or drinking or making a call, even if hands-free. You will prevent an accident and also save money on your tyres with less panic braking. Even with their eyes on the road, drivers should be aware of the affect that tyre tread depth has on stopping distances.
''Tests show that in wet weather a car travelling at 70mph with 3mm of tread would stop when a car at the legal minimum of 1.6mm would still be travelling at 50 mph and not come to a stop for a further 44 metres.''
The study also found one in four had scared others with their driving and one in five have feared for their own safety at one time or another.
More than half said their driving improves when children are in the car. Nine in 10 admitted rubber-necking at accidents on the side of the road.
Yet 86 per cent rate themselves as 'good drivers'.
TOP 20 DRIVING DISTRACTIONS
1. Re-tuning radio/inserting CD
2. Talking to a passenger
3. Scenery
4. Eating
5. Listening to loud music
6. Reaching for the glovebox
7. Looking at houses
8. Drinking
9. Other drivers
10. Passengers' behaviour
11. Texting
12. Unwrap sweets
13. Talking on the mobile phone
14. Looking at pedestrians
15. Shop windows
16. Kids in the back seat
17. Reading a map
18. SATNAV
19. Billboards
20. Singing
ENDS
