Almost half of Australians have had a near miss because they were distracted while on the road, with misbehaving children, unrestrained pets, and the search for street signs as the biggest road distractions, a Suncorp research has revealed.
Study findings showed that 59% of parents have had to discipline their misbehaving kids while driving; a quarter have had misbehaving pets in the car; and 60% had taken their eyes off the road for longer than is comfortable to look for street names or house numbers. Other distractions when driving include opening food, at 59%, and texting, 25%.
The survey of more than 15,000 Australians from around the country also revealed that 16% have caused an accident because they were distracted.
Suncorp spokesperson Ashleigh Paterson said the issue is concerning especially with many families set to travel this Easter long weekend.
"The Easter long weekend is an ideal time for many to travel locally or across state with their family, but it's also the time when we see additional hazards on our roads," Paterson said. "Drivers should be mindful of the added risks that come from driving in unfamiliar areas, being on the road for extended periods of time, or having your car full of noisy family members – including furry ones."
Paterson urged Australians out for a weekend getaway to get a good night's sleep ahead of a long trip, take a break every couple of hours, and share duties where possible.
"It's also a good idea to minimise distractions by keeping your phone out of reach and nominating another family member to navigate," Paterson said.
