Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt Mike Waters' blog: 24 May 2011 - The temptations of the social network
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Mike Waters' blog: 24 May 2011 - The temptations of the social network

Date: 24 May 2011

Mike Waters is senior insight & consultancy manager at Arval, the leading vehicle leasing and fleet management company.

Gone are the days when travelling to and from work, or to a meeting, provided some respite from the daily demands of the office. New technology combined with new modes of communication mean that many of us can be contacted at any time, wherever we are.

Every day smartphones allow people to check and respond to emails, update their Facebook status, watch some videos on YouTube and even join a debate on TWITTER from wherever there is phone reception. All great tools for getting up to date and staying in touch, but do they provide an added distraction for drivers inundated with information as they travel?

Research from the RAC 2010 Report on Motoring says that the answer is yes. On an average car journey of 23 minutes, a motorist's phone rings or beeps at least once; a clear indication that drivers are surrounded by temptation as they drive.

More worryingly, the poll showed that the number of motorists who admit to taking calls and sending text messages while on the road stands at nearly a third. Furthermore, nearly 40% of UK motorists admit to being distracted by calls, texts and social media applications on their mobile phones while they are driving.

There's no doubt that the way we operate is changing with up to the minute information more accessible than ever. For some people this is a real positive, while for others it's a nightmare, but whatever your view it does provide another reason to look away from the steering wheel.

In the past the biggest distractions have been things like food and drink, the radio, and passengers in the vehicle; however that dynamic is changing. Many drivers will sneak a peak at their phone while in traffic, at traffic lights or on a quiet road, but whatever the circumstances, it is a risk and it's illegal.

Years ago, we had no way of communicating with the outside world while driving and the world didn't stop. No call, text or Tweet is important enough to risk your safety and that of others and for the time that it takes to get from A to B, I'm sure that the world will cope without your input.

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