Chill.ie asked 425 Irish male and female motorists about their driving habits and what they get up to behind the wheel of their car. Here are just some of the findings.
It is no surprise that, as a nation of music lovers, nearly 85 per cent of respondents said they sing during journeys and that, when listening to the radio, Irish drivers prefer local and independent stations including Spin 103.8, Newstalk, FM 104 and Radio NOVA.
Of those surveyed, 67 per cent said they drive 'most safely' when listening to quiet music, while 13 per cent think they drive the safest when listening to loud music. Only one in five respondents said they are more cautious on the roads when driving in silence.
Respondents said that pop, rock and classical music helped boost their concentration but heavy metal and rap/hip-hop distracted them whilst driving.
Head of Marketing for Chill Insurance, Fergal Lynch, commented on the findings, saying: "it's important to recognise the effect that the music you're listening to can have on your driving performance. If you find yourself speeding up, taking more risks or getting stressed because of the music you're listening to, it's time to change the channel or update your playlist."
However, it is not just specific types of music that are distracting; children are also a distraction for Irish motorists with 56 per cent of parents polled saying they use the rear-view mirror to talk to children in the back seats. Responding to this, Mr Lynch said: "Children can be a big distraction for motorists. Although it may be tempting to check the rear view mirror to keep an eye on kids in the back seat, it's much safer to rely on verbal communication and keep your eyes firmly on the road ahead of you."
Furthermore, vanity is also a distraction for those surveyed and other road users, as nearly one in three women polled admitted to putting on make-up at the traffic lights, while 15 per cent said they style their hair while driving. Of the men polled, 8 per cent said they styled their hair while on the road and 7 per cent confessed to shaving their facial hair while waiting at traffic lights.
The findings are not very encouraging to say the least. Mr Lynch again: "Even a momentary lapse in concentration can be enough to cause an accident, so it's simply not worth taking the risk."