It would appear that Santander is eager to join the bandwagon (and get some valuable publicity) by doing surveys – sorry, I mean “research” - and reporting the findings as earth-shattering epiphanies.
In this article, it is reported that 1 in 5 drivers has admitted to sending a text message while driving their car. It also reports that nearly all of them believe texting is the most dangerous thing a driver can do.
It then goes on to say that eating or fiddling with the car stereo has caused near misses for many drivers. Humorously, it says that this has occurred for 20% of women and 33% of men – implying that men are worse for being distracted.
Santander’s director of insurance then concludes that concentration is vital when behind the wheel. I hope you’re all taking notes, because this will be on the exam paper!
Interestingly – and seeing as it attempted to genderise (I made that word up again) the problem – I would point out that it didn’t mention smoking, putting on make-up, arseing about with the baby in the back seat, having a dog loose, having planks and other DIY stuff sticking out the window and waving about, and fiddling with your hair as potential distractions (amongst many others).
Everyone – regardless of gender – is capable of distracted driving.
On a lesson this morning with a pupil who is not very confident on the road at the moment, she said that she was worried about her kids in the back when she passed and the radio being distractions. So I said we’d try driving home with the radio on.
She went completely to pieces and we had to turn it off.