AAMI Finds Majority Of Young Drivers Distracted, Launches App

Insurer AAMI has found the vast majority of young drivers report being distracted at some point while behind the wheel.

The company’s 14th Young Driver Index found 86 percent of 18-24 year-old respondents reported some form of driver distraction during the past year.

For some, the distraction is self-inflicted with 14 percent reporting they took a ‘selfie’ photograph or video and uploaded it to social media; while driving.

The Index also shows a rise in speeding and reckless driving in the 18-24 age group, and 19 percent of respondents report being in a car when the driver has momentarily fallen asleep.

"This is a disturbing trend emerging among young drivers and shows that talking and texting are only part of the problem posed by smartphones nowadays - and it needs to stop,” AAMI’s Reuben Aitchison said.

"It is, perhaps, ironic that we are employing the device at the heart of this problem to combat it."

AAMI