London - Up to one in five young drivers are risking their life by taking ‘selfies’ at the wheel, new UK research reveals.
Motorists are also using their mobiles and tablets to make video calls and watch films while driving, a poll by the Institute of Advanced Motorists found.
Nearly one in ten drivers of all ages admitted to taking a selfie while on the road in the past month. But this increased to 15 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 – and 19 per cent of motorists aged between 25 and 35.
The survey found women were less selfie obsessed than men, with just one in 20 saying they had taken a picture of themselves while driving compared to one in eight men. One in 12 motorists admitted to driving while using a video-calling application such as FaceTime and Skype. Some 7 percent of drivers said they watched videos and used television services such as iPlayer at the wheel.
The IAM said it was time to impose tougher penalties after the ‘shocking’ results from the survey of 500 drivers. Using a mobile at the wheel is punishable by a £100 (R1937) fine plus three penalty points. Last year the Government said it was considering doubling the penalty to six points.
An IAM report in 2012 showed that using a smartphone while driving is more dangerous than driving at the legal alcohol limit.
Daily Mail