A survey conducted in September among 24 countries finds that South African’s are almost\u00a0twice\u00a0as likely to text, email, or use social media while they are driving.<\/p>\n
The findings reflect a new poll of 14,160 drivers conducted by Ipsos OTX \u2013 the global innovation center for Ipsos, the market and opinion research firm.<\/p>\n
Two in ten (22%) of those in 24 countries who drive indicate they text, email, or use social media while they are driving, even when they\u2019re at a stop sign or a red light.<\/p>\n
Four in 10 (41%)\u00a0South African admitted to breaking the law by using their mobile whilst behind the wheel,\u00a0ranking second, behind only\u00a0Saudi Arabia (43%).<\/p>\n
South Korea (33%), India (29%), China (27%), United States (27%), Brazil (25%) and Russia (25%), all followed for committing the offence.<\/p>\n
The countries where people were least\u00a0likely\u00a0to use their phones included\u00a0Japan (18%), France (17%), Poland (17%), Turkey (17%), Belgium (15%), Spain (14%), Hungary (9%), and Great Britain (8%).<\/p>\n
Other countries who took part in the survey included: Indonesia (24%), Sweden (24%), Mexico (23%), Argentina (21%), Australia (20%), Germany (20%), Canada (19%) and Italy (19%).<\/p>\n
#<\/strong><\/td>\n| Country<\/strong><\/td>\n | Texting while driving | \n<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 1<\/td>\n | Saudi Arabia<\/td>\n | 43%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 2<\/td>\n | South Africa<\/td>\n | 41%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 3<\/td>\n | South Korea<\/td>\n | 33%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 4<\/td>\n | India<\/td>\n | 29%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 5<\/td>\n | China<\/td>\n | 27%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 6<\/td>\n | USA<\/td>\n | 27%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 7<\/td>\n | Brazil<\/td>\n | 25%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 8<\/td>\n | Russia<\/td>\n | 25%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 9<\/td>\n | Indonesia<\/td>\n | 24%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 10<\/td>\n | Sweden<\/td>\n | 24%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 11<\/td>\n | Mexico<\/td>\n | 23%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 12<\/td>\n | Argentina<\/td>\n | 21%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 13<\/td>\n | Australia<\/td>\n | 20%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 14<\/td>\n | German<\/td>\n | 20%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 15<\/td>\n | Canada<\/td>\n | 19%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 16<\/td>\n | Italy<\/td>\n | 19%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 17<\/td>\n | Japan<\/td>\n | 18%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 18<\/td>\n | France<\/td>\n | 17%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 19<\/td>\n | Poland<\/td>\n | 17%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 20<\/td>\n | Turkey<\/td>\n | 17%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 21<\/td>\n | Belgium<\/td>\n | 15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 22<\/td>\n | Spain<\/td>\n | 14%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 23<\/td>\n | Hungary<\/td>\n | 9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 24<\/td>\n | Great Britain<\/td>\n | 8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n | Global averages indicate that age is among the most important variable in determining a driver\u2019s likelihood to message behind the wheel. Those under the age of 35 (31%) are most likely to say \u201cyes\u201d they engage in the behavior, compared with those 35-49 (21%) and those 50-64 (10%).<\/p>\n The poll found no gender difference (23% male, 22% female) on the global aggregate level.<\/p>\n And, according to the survey, communicating digitally while in the car appears to be highly related to a person\u2019s work life as those who are employed (25%) are more likely than those unemployed (15%) to say \u201cyes\u201d.<\/p>\n Business\u00a0owners, at 33%, are also more\u00a0likely\u00a0to use their mobile while driving to communicate, compared with\u00a020% among non business owners.<\/p>\n Similarly, income (28% high, 21% medium, 19% low) and education (25% high, 22% medium, 19% low) are also indicators of greater likelihood to drive and message, Ipsos found.<\/p>\n More on texting while driving<\/h3>\nVoice-to-text while driving is not safe: study<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SA among worst for texting whilst driving<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n SA\u2019s mobile obsession while driving<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The impossible texting and driving test<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Road Traffic calls for compulsory hands-free kits<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n |