Millions of Australian motorists are endangering lives with attempts to multi-task while driving, new research has shown.
More than half of 1000 drivers surveyed by Finder in September admitted to losing focus while driving.
Around 13 per cent of Aussies are still texting while driving, the equivalent of 2.75 million drivers, while more than 1 in 10 are checking social media.
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This is despite it being illegal to use a mobile phone while driving and the offence attracting fines as high as $1161 in Queensland and a loss of 5 demerit points in New South Wales.
Other worrying behaviour drivers admitted to in the survey included watching a TV show or movie, 7 per cent, and changing clothes, 9 per cent.
Shockingly, 5 per cent of drivers even admitted to pulling out a razor and giving themselves a shave behind the wheel, while 6 per cent had put on make-up.
The dangerous driving trends are more common among young Australians – a disturbing 67 per cent of gen Z admit they multitask behind the wheel.
Astonishingly 24 per cent of gen Z text and drive, compared to only 2 per cent of baby boomers.
The national road toll has been increasing in Australia.
In the 12 months to August 2024, 1,322 Australians lost their lives on the roads, up 9.2 percent on the year before, according to Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE).
Tim Bennett, car insurance expert at Finder, said distracted drivers were a serious concern.
“Everyday tasks like responding to emails and applying makeup can become deadly distractions when done behind the wheel of a car.
“Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can have devastating results.”
Younger drivers were more likely to engage in dangerous multitasking, the survey showed, with 67 per cent admitting to completing other activities while behind the wheel.
Almost a quarter of Generation Z said they had texted while driving in the past 12 months, compared to only 2 per cent of baby boomers.
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