Daydreaming more dangerous than using mobile phones while driving

Fatal road accidents are more likely to be caused by a driver daydreaming than using a mobile phone, according to research by Erie Insurance.

The US-based insurer looked at police data from 2010 and 2011 that catalogued over 65,000 road deaths across the US and categorised the reasons for the accident. It revealed 62% were “lost in thought” at the time of the accident while 12% were using a phone to call or text, the second highest accident cause.

Erie Insurance senior vice president of personal lines Doug Smith said: “Distracted driving is any activity that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off your primary task of driving safely. We looked at what law enforcement officers across the country reported when they filled out reports on fatal crashes and the results were disturbing.

“We hope the data will encourage people to avoid these high-risk behaviours that needlessly increase their risk of being involved in a fatal crash.”