A U.S. survey, conducted by Smith’s Lawyer’s and based on 2,214 drivers across the country, has revealed that men are much more likely to be distracted when driving than women.
The survey also found that more than 70 per cent of men have admitted to driving distracted, suggested that women are more focused when behind the wheel.
“The survey results found men are much more likely to be distracted by their phone, try and drive with their knees or watch videos on the go,” said Smith’s Lawyer’ blogger Richard Greenwood in a June 2018 article. “The biggest difference came from men checking out attractive pedestrians such as runners as they drive.”
When compared to women, the study reveals that men are a whopping 260 per cent more inclined to check out pedestrians while driving; 22 per cent more likely to use their smartphone (not hands free), and 74 per cent more likely to drive with their knees. The probability of watching videos while driving is also 70 per cent more likely for men than women.
The issue of using a phone while driving is most prominent in Western states like California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona & Colorado. And driving with the knees is more common in the Midwest, including states like Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio & Iowa.
Of those surveyed, nearly half of new (young) drivers have admitted to using their phone while driving — non hands-free. Greenwood says this is the highest percentage of any age group. He also says that 17.4 per cent of men under 25 years of age have also admitted to watching videos (such as Netflix shows or movies) on their phone while driving.
The inclusion of Bluetooth (or other technology that allows for hands-free driving) as standard equipment in vehicles may held curb this area of distracted driving.
