Toyota has renewed calls to stop drivers using their mobile phones behind the wheel, as a new survey says that 59 per cent of us are looking at our screens when driving.
Survey of 1,000 Irish motorists
New nationwide research carried out by iReach on behalf of Toyota Ireland has found that 42 per cent admit they have looked at their phones when driving within the last two months. The survey of 1,000 Irish drivers also revealed that over half of all adults (52 per cent) check their phone in the car after hearing an alert, with 26 per cent checking when stopped at traffic lights, 21 per cent taking a quick glance while driving when they feel it's safe to do so, and 5 per cent checking immediately. 48 per cent wait until they get home to check.
When it comes to specific phone activity when driving or stopped at traffic lights, 21 per cent read text messages, 18 per cent make or answer calls, seven per cent check voicemail, six per cent send messages, four per cent check social media and three per cent read the news.
Road deaths on the rise again
With deaths on Irish roads having risen by nine fatalities so far this year, compared to 2019, Toyota says that it's vital we don't allow ourselves to become distracted by our phones when driving, and so will promote its National FaceItDown Awareness Week, which runs from Monday, September 14th to Sunday, September 20th.
Toyota's Face It Down app detects when a phone is placed, screen-side-down, in your car and registers how long you've done that for. More time spent face-down equals bonus points, which can be exchanged for free hot beverages in Circle K service stations, cheaper FBD car insurance and subsidised parking at QPark car parks.
Since its launch in 2017, FaceItDown has recorded more than 28.9 million kilometres driven in Ireland with phones faced down. The free app is available to all motorists, whether they drive a Toyota or not, from Apple Store or Google Play.
As an added incentive for current FaceItDown users, and to attract the next wave of safety-conscious drivers, Toyota is offering double incentive points for all journeys logged on the app from today, 9th September to the 20th September.
Four times more likely to crash
Commenting on the survey results Steve Tormey, CEO of Toyota Ireland said: "Despite it being a well-known fact that people who use mobile phones while driving are four times more likely to crash than those who don't, the research findings clearly demonstrate the need for continued driver education and the important role that Toyota's FaceItDown can play in making Irish roads safer for all.
"Toyota's FaceItDown initiative is a prime example of our brand promise 'Built for a Better World' in action, and while we're very proud of what it has achieved to date, we are appealing to all Irish motorists to make the app part of their daily driving routine, step up their vigilance and keep their eyes on the road at all times."
Toyota's brand ambassador Niall 'Bressie' Breslin will be spearheading this year's awareness week campaign and as he explains, the dangers associated with people using mobiles while driving is an issue he is passionate about driving home: "I spend a lot of time driving from Mullingar to Dublin, and on a daily basis I see motorists with phone in hand doing 100km/h on the motorway. The research clearly shows that people think it's OK to use their phones when they think it's safe, but even momentary driver distraction can result in death and disaster.
"What Toyota has done with FaceItDown is really clever and we want to encourage every driver in Ireland to download the free app. It takes a matter of seconds and you'll be rewarded for your good driving behaviour and help make our roads safer for all. What's not to love about that?"