Music-mad Brits a menace on the roads

Brits are a nation of distracted drivers, according to research by moneysupermarket.com - and could face hefty penalties on their motor insurance premiums if caught being careless behind the wheel.

The poll by the UK's leading price comparison site found motorists are not keeping their eyes on the road at all times, with the top driving bad habits revealed as: changing stations on the radio / changing a CD (77 per cent), eating (52 per cent) and drinking while driving (52 per cent).

Motorists who are convicted of "driving without due care and attention" (conviction code CD10) can expect their insurance premiums to rise by an average 26 per cent - or £116 a year. For a 30 year old male driver with a clean licence, Kwik-Fit offers annual motor cover for £470 - but the CD10 conviction could add £188 to the cost (see table below), an increase of 40 per cent.

Andy Leadbetter, managing director of insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: "It seems we are a nation of distracted drivers - yet being on the road requires complete concentration at all times. Any lapse in concentration, even for a second to change radio stations or take a bite from a sandwich while driving, could have severe or even fatal consequences. It is astonishing to see even the basic task of wearing a seatbelt is too much effort for some of us, while others admit to applying make-up, or worse, nodding off at the wheel. It is clear these bad habits could have incredibly dangerous consequences."

THE FACTS

According to The Department for Transport eight people are killed on British roads each day, and new laws have been brought in to heavily penalise those caught driving without due care and attention3. Motorists found driving carelessly could face a hefty fine as the bare minimum and three to nine points on their licence depending on the severity of the case. Drivers who cause an accident as a result of being distracted could even face imprisonment.

GENDER BIAS

The research found men are more likely to be distracted behind the wheel than women - significantly more of them admit to eating, drinking and adjusting the stereo. Men are also more likely to forget their seatbelt (27 per cent compared to 17 per cent of women).

REGIONAL STATISTICS

Londoners are the least likely to buckle-up, with 28 per cent admitting to not using their seatbelt, while motorists in East Anglia are most guilty of changing the CD and quenching their thirst (82 per cent and 59 per cent) respectively. The survey reveals those in the South West are most likely to eat behind the wheel (58 per cent).

Andy Leadbetter continued: "Careless drivers are a menace on the roads and a danger to both themselves and others. The penalties for this kind of behaviour are huge and can really impact on the cost of your insurance premiums. Not only are these bad driving habits, but also expensive habits if you are caught - it really isn't worth taking the risk."