Australia’s poor driving habits exposed

Most people do this behind the wheel regularly but it is potentially dangerous and the police can fine you hundreds of dollars if they catch you.

A huge slice of Australians have admitted to doing a range of dangerous things behind the wheel and many face huge fines if caught.

New research from comparison website Finder.com.au has found that 61 per cent of drivers admitted to being distracted while driving. The most common potentially dangerous behaviour was eating while driving, with 44 per cent of respondents admitting to this.

Almost half of all motorists surveyed admitted to eating behind the wheel.

Next up was driving with thongs, which sounds harmless, but the loose fitting footwear has the potential to cause a serious accident if one comes off and wedge under pedals.

Both actions aren’t specifically singled out in road rules, but all states have a rule regarding not being in full control of a vehicle, which comes with big fines and loss of points.

In NSW drivers are stung $457 and lose three demerit points if they are deemed not in full control of the vehicle. In Victoria it will costs you $397 and three demerit points. South Australian motorists will be slugged only $193, but Queenslanders would be forced to pay $533 and lose three points for driving without due car and attention.

Just last week Victorian Police warned motorists that they may be fined if they use their mobile phones to pay for drive-through fast food.

However, disturbingly there are quite a number of common driving behaviours that people admitted to that are illegal.

Applying make-up and talking on the phone were both common bad driver behaviours.

Texting while driver was one of the most common illegal behaviours, with 11 per cent admitting to it. While 10 per cent said that they had answered a phone call directly to their ear while driving.

Five per cent of drivers admitted to checking social media and four per cent said they replied to emails.

Others freely admitted to reading a book or newspaper while driving and others said that they shaved while driving, which on Australia’s notoriously potholed roads poses other potential risks.

Reaching to the back seat to deal with children is a big driver distraction.

Finder expert Taylor Blackburn says that every moment drivers aren’t focused on the road could be catastrophic.

And this is backed up by NSW government’s centre of road safety.

Bernard Carlon the executive director for the Centre of Road Safety says: “At 60km/h, if you look at your phone for just two seconds, you travel 33 metres, virtually blind. A short lapse in concentration can have serious consequences.”

“No phone call, email, message or social media post is worth risking your life or someone else’s. Reduce the temptation by putting the phone out of reach — it’s just not worth it.”

The NSW government has recently raised the penalty for mobile phone use to five demerit points along with a $344 fine.

Queensland transport minister Mark Bailey has flagged the potential for $1000 fines for using a mobile phone while driving.

“Families and the wider community forever pay the price for that decision to check social media or read a text,” says Mr Bailey.

“We’ve seen a major cultural shift in our attitude to drunk driving and we need to have that conversation now about our obsession with screen time while driving.”

Top 15 poor driving habits

Eaten food 44 per cent

Driven in thongs 25 per cent

Smoked 13 per cent

Reached in the back to deal with kids 12 per cent

Texted 11 per cent

Hand held phone call 10 per cent

Driven with knees 7 per cent

Checked social media 5 per cent

Microsleep 5 per cent

Applied makeup 5 per cent

Replied to email 4 per cent

Changed clothes 4 per cent

Watched TV 2 per cent

Read book 2 per cent

Shaved 1 per cent

Source: Finder