Interesting results in a road safety survey commisioned by Ford in the UK with driver distraction emerging as an ongoing issue.
Among the ‘dodgy’ driving habits to emerge from the confronting survey are:
• 10 per cent of drivers admited to sending text messags on the mobile telephones while driving (that percentage doubled in the 17 to 24 year age group)
• 60 per cent frequently changed CDs or radio stations while on the move
• 40 per cent of respondents admitted to driving with only one hand on the steering wheel
• 30 per cent said they turned their car into a mobile canteen, eating or drinking while driving
• 20 per cent admitted they drove while too tired
• 10 per cent said they talked on their mobile telephones while driving
Interestingly, 67 per cent of those drivers surveyed reckoned they might struggle to pass the statutory driving test if they had to re-do it today.
No wonder then, Ford is continuing to develop technologies like its ‘Active City Stop’ which in slow-moving traffic automatically applies the brakes if the car in front stops suddenly and ‘Voice Control’ which uses spoken commands to adjust the audio and air-conditioning controls.
And, as a result, it’s no surprise 30 per cent of those who took part in the survey said they would like both of those features in their next car.
