Sell my mobile: Nomophobic drivers at greater risk

02/06/2012

Young people that can't put their mobile phones away are putting themselves and other motorists at greater risk when they get behind the wheel.

The latest figures from the AAMI Younger Drivers Index found that people are less likely to drink-drive or speed on Australian roads but are increasingly distracted by their phones when in the car.

It found that nomophobia - the fear of being without your mobile phone - is making less experienced drivers take greater risks on the road.

Nearly half (46 per cent) of the 18-24-year-old respondents said they had made a phone call without using hands-free while driving.

Spokesperson for AAMI Reuben Aitchison said it is shocking the amount of relatively inexperienced drivers that are willing to head down roads without fully paying attention to what they're doing.

"The average text takes around five seconds to read. If you are going 100km/h, you’ll hurtle along the length of a footy field with your eyes off the road, only one hand on the wheel," he continued.

Posted by Peter Robinson

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