Drivers phone family whilst driving

Quarter of drivers phone families when driving

Friday, August 28, 2015

Nearly a quarter of drivers have broken the law by talking to their families while behind the wheel to research from road safety charity Brake. 

Almost a quarter (23%) of drivers have talked to family on the phone while driving while one-in-seven drivers (15%) have talked to friends on the phone while driving.

Meanwhile, one-in-six drivers (17%) have had a work-related call while driving.

The survey showed that young drivers (17-24) were most likely to engage in phone calls with friends with more than a third (35%) of young drivers doing so while driving.

More than two in five young drivers (21%) have talked to friends on the phone while driving and nearly half (49%) of young drivers have had a work-related call while driving.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: “In the modern world, drivers are confronted with many distractions that prevent them from giving the road their full attention, risking devastating crashes and loss of life. It is a sobering thought that a significant number of these life-threatening distractions come from drivers’ own friends and family.”

Brake also asked drivers how long they drive without taking a break. Two thirds (67%) admitted driving for more than the recommended two hours, with a quarter (24%) doing so once a month or more.