1 in 10 car accidents distraction-related, survey claims

Every tenth car accident in Germany, Austria and Switzerland relates to driver distraction, according to a new survey. Further findings of the survey titled ‘Distraction in Traffic’ by the ACT Allianz Center for Technology in Munich, Germany found that more than 25% of drivers work on their styling, clothing and body care behind the wheel. People are particularly prone to engaging in body care while driving to work. Altogether 27% of respondents to the survey admitted to sometimes doing one or more of these
June 1, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Every tenth car accident in Germany, Austria and Switzerland relates to driver distraction, according to a new survey.

Further findings of the survey titled ‘Distraction in Traffic’ by the ACT Allianz Center for Technology in Munich, Germany found that more than 25% of drivers work on their styling, clothing and body care behind the wheel. People are particularly prone to engaging in body care while driving to work. Altogether 27% of respondents to the survey admitted to sometimes doing one or more of these activities while driving.

The findings of the three-nation representative research, conducted together with the Institute for Applied Psychology (Mensch-Verkehr-Umwelt) and Makam Market Research, concluded that all distractions behind the wheel contribute more frequently to the likelihood of accidents than previously assumed.

Related Content

  • Distraction poses increasing risk to driving safety
    July 21, 2014
    In the UK a number of road safety campaigning groups are warning that driver distraction from mobile phones will become a bigger killer than drink driving by 2015. While cellphone use by drivers is banned in the UK, penalties are still light and enforcement lax. Drivers still frequently use cellphones while behind the wheel. Suggestions have been made to double the penalties facing offenders, but if this ruling is accepted it will still take time to implement. And some say these tougher penalties are still
    Read More
  • Driver distraction poses safety challenge
    June 5, 2015
    The modern automobile offers massive gains in safety over earlier generation vehicles. Occupant protection levels have been improved due to crash testing regimes that have ensured vehicles will not collapse catastrophically in the event of an impact. Braking systems are more effective and reliable, with ABS preventing skidding in wet weather conditions. The prospect of autonomous vehicles in the near future offer further safety gains to come. But right now, there is a problem. Too much technology is bein
    Read More
  • Study highlights weather effects on traffic
    July 9, 2012
    Extreme weather conditions cost the EU’s transport system at least €15 billion/year. This is the result of a study carried out by the Finnish VTT Technical Research Centre. The study reveals that the greatest costs incurred are from road accidents, with the associated material and psychological effects. Costs arising from accidents are expected to decrease in volume, although time-related costs attributable to delays are projected to increase. In part, this last effect is due to climate change, which has an
    Read More
  • KPMG’s Global Automotive Executive Survey 2012
    March 21, 2012
    With China slated to be the world’s biggest market for auto sales and exports by 2025, and demand for electric vehicles expected to be the highest in emerging markets, global auto players should have a clearer vision of the way forward on issues critical to the industry.
    Read More

Highlighted Content