Phone usage while driving too high

ROLLiN’, an IAG motor insurance brand, has evaluated more than 18 million kilometres of customer driving data and found Australian drivers are using their phones during one in every seven car trips, putting the safety of road users and pedestrians at risk.

Phone use is one of the key driving behaviours ROLLiN’ assesses, along with speeding, hard braking and cornering, through its Safe ‘n’ Save app, which rewards safe driving with a discount on their premium. Phone use is detected when a vehicle is in motion and a driver picks up the phone, unlocks the home screen, or opens any apps.

ROLLiN’ executive manager Brendan Griffiths urged all drivers to take greater care while travelling on our roads.

“Unfortunately, regardless of age, gender, or where you live in Australia, the unsafe driver behaviour we consistently detect through our Safe ‘n’ Save app is phone use, which ultimately results in distracted driving and the risk of an accident,” Griffiths said.

“If a car is travelling at the average speed of 50km per hour, that’s almost three car lengths each second when a driver’s eyes are on their phone. On an average 10km car trip, it means a vehicle is travelling a distance of about 400 metres while the driver is distracted by their phone – that’s the same as driving around an athletic track with your eyes closed.”

ROLLiN’s Safe ‘n’ Save app establishes a safe driver score for each individual participating customer and provides them with useful insights into how well they drive.

“ROLLiN’ is urging all drivers to take extra care... make safe driving your priority. Slow down and keep your hands on the wheel, not on your phone,” Griffiths concluded.

Safe ‘n’ Save driving behaviour insights by state:

• In South Australia drivers use their phone one in every nine car trips
• In Queensland drivers use their phone one in every seven car trips
• In New South Wales drivers use their phone one in every seven trips
• In the ACT drivers use their phone in one in seven trips
• In Western Australia drivers use their phone one in every six trips
• In Victoria drivers use their phone one in every six trips