Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a modern phenomenon that keeps people glued to their phones and mobile devices, in case they miss something on social media or don’t reply to calls and messages quick enough. This could be a large part of what drives nearly 1 in 3 motorists to knowingly flout the law by using their devices while driving. Despite so many falling foul of ‘device driving’, 69% of people we surveyed believe the penalties are right for those caught in the act.
The top reason for using a phone, according to our research, is making or receiving a call (61%). Unsurprisingly, Google Maps came second, with 32% turning to their phones for navigation, whilst texting was number three for 32%. Whilst 25-44 year old drivers are more likely to use their phone while driving, 18-24 year-olds take a riskier approach and prefer to text.
There are a worrying amount of people who admit to browsing the internet while driving, with 18% of motorists saying they do this and 55-64 year-olds the most likely group to be guilty. Selecting music (14%) and checking social media (11%) are the other main distractions for drivers.
In March this year, penalties for holding and using a phone while driving increased to six points and a £200 fine, but this appears to not be enough to deter drivers from committing the crime. We’re calling all motorists to back the THINK! Campaign, run by the Department for Transport, and the RAC’s Be Phone Smart promise, both of which appeal to drivers to put their phones away while driving or switch their phones to ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, to remove the distraction completely. For ultimate ease, Apple users running iOS 11 now have access via their phone dashboard to a new safety feature called ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’.
We have also created an online guide to help raise awareness of the issue, offering tips on how to ignore the distractions.
*Survey of 100 drivers conducted by Gorkana Surveys on behalf of Exchange and Mart
**http://think.direct.gov.uk/mobile-phones.html
