Millions of drivers who have 'simple' conversation with passengers in car warned


Millions of drivers who have 'simple' conversation with passengers in car warned

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Millions of drivers who have 'simple' conversation with passengers in car warnedTalking to passengers and daydreaming are bigger causes of distracted driving mistakes than using a phone, a


new survey suggests.MotoringChristian Abbott Audience Writer09:24, 03 Jun 2025Millions of drivers who have 'simple' conversation with passengers in car warned Drivers who talk to passengers


in their cars have been warned they face "catastrophic consequences". Talking to passengers and daydreaming are bigger causes of distracted driving mistakes than using a phone, a new survey


suggests.


The RAC, which commissioned the poll, warned that distractions can have “catastrophic consequences”. More than three out of five (63%) of the 2,691 UK drivers surveyed said they have made


mistakes behind the wheel because they were distracted.


‌ RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis said: “Talking to passengers or daydreaming are so common that they aren’t perceived by drivers to be big distractions, but our research has


revealed they are in fact responsible for most of the errors drivers admit to, whether that’s missing a turning, exceeding the speed limit or ending up in the wrong lane.


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“While dropping an item or applying make-up are clearly extremely distracting and dangerous, they’re fortunately far less common than every-day things like talking to another passenger, an


interfering thought or spotting something interesting outside the vehicle.


Article continues below “Although your eyes are on the road, it’s easy for your mind to wander behind the wheel, especially on long journeys.


"Distractions can have catastrophic consequences for both drivers themselves and other road users, especially in extreme instances like failing to stop at a junction or at red light or


crossing.


“The practice of driving is second nature for many of us, but our research suggests things we do without thinking in the car have far more potential to cause us to make errors than we might


realise.


Article continues below "Driving is still a very mentally demanding task, especially as we need to be able to react to what’s in front in a split-second, so it’s important we do everything


we can to stay alert and minimise distractions.”


The latest Government data shows 940 people were killed or seriously injured in 2023 where drivers were found to be distracted by something within the vehicle they were travelling in.