Most Youngsters Use Smartphone while Driving

Bangalore: Many of us have smartphones and the usage of internet in our smart device is not a sin. But the problem arises when this internet surfing is done when you are driving. Youth are especially attracted towards this habit of using the internet while driving, a new study done  by Nick Reed, a senior human factors researcher who leads the project by the TRL for the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has confirmed this alarming fact.

The study revealed that nearly 46 percent of users now access the web using their smartphones which is 107 percent increase since 2009. And also says that nearly one quarter of people are aged 17 to 24 access email or social networking sites from their phones while driving.

The study found that those who use their phones while driving will spend up to 60 percent of their time looking in to the device instead of focusing on the road. By comparing to this, those who don’t use internet in their phones while driving, spends on an average of 10 percent of the driving time by looking away, to check speedometer, GPS navigation or the in-car entertainment, reports ANI.

“That 60 percent time is enough to miss someone braking or swerving in front of you, debris in the road and other hazards," says Nick Reed, reports the Telegraph. "You may get away with it for a while but if you do it consistently, you will have an accident," he further added.

Police usually reports the accident only if someone has been injured, while the mobile users often slow down for their unsafe behavior of using internet while driving. It means their accidents cause less injurious.

28 young drivers aged 18 to 25 were monitored by CCTV cameras inside the Honda Civic simulator, the study found that the visual and audio stimulation (as we experience in the real life journey) reaction time of 38 percent were worse while using the smartphone.

The study clearly shows that accessing the internet with your smartphone while driving is totally unsafe and dangerous. This new bad habit has to be checked and the authorities need to take some actions and rules to stop this dire trend.