RAC Report on Motoring 2016

RAC Report on Motoring 2016

2.0 Road safety

Despite this high level of concern, a significant minority of motorists do admit to using handheld phones to make or receive calls while driving. Almost a third (31%) have done so at least once in the past 12 months: 15% say they rarely do so, 10% say they use their phones in this way only sometimes, while 6% admit using handheld phones at the wheel most or all of the time. Motorists are much more likely to use their handheld phones while sitting in stationary traffic with their engines on, despite the fact that this is also against the law.

Almost half of drivers (49%) have done so in the past year, while 46% admit to having checked texts, emails or social media while stationary. The idea that it is acceptable to use a phone while stuck in traffic or queuing at a set of lights, for example, seems to be gaining currency. A fifth of motorists (20%) say they agree with the statement ‘It is safe to text or check social media on your phone when stationary’, up from 17% in 2015. And equally worryingly, taking phone calls on a handheld phone while driving is unacceptable to fewer motorists this year; only 78% thought taking a quick call was unacceptable, down from 83% 12 months ago. As for the reasons given for using a handheld phone while driving, 23% say ‘It was an emergency’, while 21% did so to obtain information needed for their journeys; 20% made a call because ‘It could have been an emergency’.

46 % of people admit to having checked texts, emails or social media while stationary

78 % of motorists think taking quick phone calls on a handheld phone while driving is unacceptable

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