Insurance company Aviva has commissioned a study into driving habits in 13 countries around the globe, and unfortunately the findings paint Irish drivers in a very bad light.
Over 80 per cent of Irish people surveyed admit to using electronic devices when behind the wheel, a markedly worse figure than our UK neighbours (66 per cent).
Nearly half of us make phone calls without using a hands-free kit, 26 per cent send text messages, and incredulously, 15 per cent of people check and update their social media while driving. There really is no excuse for this behaviour, and various hard-hitting advertisements extolling the dangers of concentration loss behind the wheel are still not getting through to some people.
Michael Bannon, Underwriting Manager with Aviva Motor Insurance, said: "It is shocking to find that so many drivers are taking such risks, given all that we know about road safety. Just a split second of distraction or lapse in concentration can result in death on the road. Technology has revolutionised our lives for the better in very many respects, but when it comes to road safety its ability to distract can prove lethal."
In addition, 40 per cent admit to driving while excessively tired, and 60 per cent eat or drink behind the wheel, with 43 per cent stating that they find themselves easily distracted by passengers. To round off the bad news, seven per cent of those surveyed confessed to doing their make-up while driving. These figures are some of the highest, if not THE highest in Europe, and it's time for a real sea change before more avoidable accidents occur.
Bannon added this prescient advice: "When you get behind the wheel you are responsible not only for your own life, but for everyone else you encounter on the road. With holiday season now well underway, when families will take to the road for longer journeys than usual, this research should serve as a wake-up call. Put the mobile phones out of reach, set-up your satnav before beginning your journey, stop for a coffee if tiredness is getting the better of you, and concentrate on the road. Driving is among the most hazardous activities we undertake in our lives. For all our sakes, we need to remember that stark reality at the start of every journey."