Drivers distracted on the road, auto insurance firm claims

Friday, 28 Aug 2009, 11:12am
Drivers distracted on the road, auto insurance firm claims

Car insurance provider the AA has surveyed its customers to see what things distract them while they are driving, a potential cause of accidents.

New research by auto insurance company the AA has shown that motorists in the UK are not keeping their eyes on the road while they drive, as they are too distracted by the things going on around them.

According to the report, the thing that most often attracts the attention of car owners is a good view of the landscape, with 75 per cent of respondents claiming they have been drawn away from the road and towards a beautiful vista.

It is thought such distractions could be the cause of accidents, which will push auto insurance premiums up, but it is not only rolling hills and valleys which are diverting attention away from the road and nearby traffic.

Some 70 per cent of men say that they have concentrated more on an attractive member of the opposite sex than the vehicle being operated, while this figure is only 25 per cent when it comes to female drivers.

But the AA recommends pulling over to look at a nice view in order to reduce the risk of an auto insurance claim.

Simon Douglas, director of the company, said: "There are many distractions for the modern-day driver and most can easily adjust to them but for some drivers too much distraction could lead to a collision.

"Our best advice is to stop in a safe place if you can, to look at views or other roadside features. A collision would ruin your journey - to say nothing of having to pay an insurance excess, possible loss of your no-claim bonus and the risk of a careless driving conviction," he added.

Incidents which may need to be covered under a person's auto insurance are more likely to happen on local roads, according to recent research by elephant.co.uk.


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