Kiwi Drivers Are Steering Their Way to Early Grave

Driven to Distraction – Why Kiwi Drivers Are Steering Their Way to a Early Grave

Are you guilty of being driven to distraction while behind the steering wheel? New research reveals 80% of crashes involve vehicle inattention, meaning that rush hour multi-tasking is a ticking time bomb for you and your passengers.

This exclusive report in the latest issue of New Zealand Reader’s Digest investigates the dangers of distracted drivers and the impact on the safety of our roads.

- A survey by the University of Sydney revealed that on average, drivers are distracted once every six minutes.

- When driving, 69% of people will adjust gadgets and car controls, 58% are distracted by external events, people or objects and 40% will be distracted by their own passengers.

- GPS dangerous? Technology such as cell phones are one of the leading causes of driver distraction, and researchers are still evaluating the risks of technology (such as GPS) designed to make driving easier.

- You will increase your risk of having a crash/near crash by:
• Reaching for a moving object: 8.8 times
• Reading: 3-4 times
• Applying make-up: 3.1 times
• Eating: 1.6 times

- The report examines New Zealand’s driving laws and our most prolific driver distraction cases, as well as offering tips for the keeping focussed and safe on the road.

ENDS

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