Skip to main content

Survey reveals inattention as colossal car crash cause

A new survey of car crashes cites inattention as the leading cause. The study was carried out by Allianz Global Assistance and the Allianz technical centre and focussed on driver behaviour. The report revealed that around one third of car accidents are due to inattention, with 60% of drivers admitting that using mobile phones while driving is the leading reason for inattention. Meanwhile a further 40% of drivers admitted they talk on the phone while behind the wheel. Even more worryingly, 30% of drivers adm
July 8, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
A new survey of car crashes cites inattention as the leading cause. The study was carried out by 3924 Allianz Global Assistance and the Allianz technical centre and focussed on driver behaviour. The report revealed that around one third of car accidents are due to inattention, with 60% of drivers admitting that using mobile phones while driving is the leading reason for inattention. Meanwhile a further 40% of drivers admitted they talk on the phone while behind the wheel. Even more worryingly, 30% of drivers admitted to looking at emails and texts while driving and 20% send messages while driving. According to Allianz, a hands-free kit is as distracting as a mobile phone and increases the risk of a crash by two to five times. Risks are also increased by the use of GPS, radio and CD players, discussions with other passengers and putting on make-up while driving.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Regular speeders crash more often
    November 3, 2016
    Research from a UK insurance company that provides vehicles with black box, telematics technology throws a light on what causes crashes. According to the firm, Insure The Box, its analysis of around 5 billion km of driving data provides a crucial insight. The telematics pioneer uses black box data to target regular speeding culprits and provides safer driving support. According to the firm’s data analysis, drivers who speed more than 20% of the time increase their risk of having an accident by 87%. Meanw
  • Improving road safety in France and UK
    May 1, 2012
    The latest official data shows a continuing improvement in road safety statistics in both France and the UK. However the data also reveals worrying trends in accidents concerning vulnerable road users.
  • US carries out safety programme trial
    February 8, 2012
    The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is carrying out road safety pilot programmes in Hartford, Connecticut and Syracuse, New York. These are intended to test whether increased law enforcement efforts can ensure that drivers stop using cell phones and focus instead on the road.
  • Road safety of concern in Sweden and Israel
    January 8, 2015
    Worrying data on road safety has been released from Sweden and Israel. Sweden’s record on road safety is one of the best in the world, with a combination of tough enforcement and stiff penalties along with effective driver education and training having helped lower the country’s fatality rate. However the latest official figures from the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) show that 275 people were killed on Swedish roads in 2014, compared with 260 people in 2013. This may yet prove to be a stat