Drivers warned over 'catastrophic' distraction that isn't using a mobile

ALMOST EVERY DRIVER IS GUILTY OF DOING THIS AT SOME STAGE 00:01, 03 Jun 2025 A new survey has revealed that talking to passengers is a more common cause of driver mistakes than using a

phone. The RAC, which commissioned the poll, spoke to 2,691 drivers about mistakes they make while behind the wheel and what caused them. More than three out of five (63%) of those surveyed

said the most common cause of their motoring blunders came about as a result of talking to other passengers and thinking about topics unrelated to driving. The RAC has warned drivers that

distractions like this can have "catastrophic consequences". Interacting with modern touchscreen systems to control functions such as heating, radio and navigation aids also leads

to drivers making mistakes, with 26% saying this has happened to them. Mistakes ranged from missing a junction to ending up in the wrong lane and nearly crashing into another road user.

Article continues below When all respondents to the survey were asked what they consider distracting, the most common responses included talking on a phone (46%) and applying make-up or

shaving (42%). But among those who admitted to making distracted mistakes, just 8% and 2% of drivers respectively said those were the causes. Separate Department for Transport (DfT) figures

show 940 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes on Britain’s roads in 2023 where a driver was found to be distracted by something within their vehicle. This highlights the

importance of staying focused while driving and avoiding in-vehicle distractions. RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said: "Talking to passengers or daydreaming are so common that

they aren’t perceived by drivers to be big distractions, but our research has revealed they are in fact responsible for most of the errors drivers admit to. "Although your eyes are on

the road, it’s easy for your mind to wander behind the wheel, especially on long journeys." Article continues below He continued: "Distractions can have catastrophic consequences

for both drivers themselves and other road users, especially in extreme instances like failing to stop at a junction or at a red light or crossing. "Driving is still a very mentally

demanding task, especially as we need to be able to react to what’s in front in a split-second, so it’s important we do everything we can to stay alert and minimise distractions."