ALMOST 140,000 road traffic injuries or fatalities could have been avoided in the last year if motorists were less distracted when driving, new research shows.

Across the country last year, there were more than 185,010 road traffic injuries and fatalities (year ending June 2016).

Loss of concentration through tiredness is the greatest cause of road accidents - representing 62 per cent - and a new survey by Exchange and Mart reveals that nearly one in every four motorists admits to regularly driving in these circumstances.

Mobile phone usage caused 12 per cent of crashes, although just nine per cent of people surveyed admitted to being regularly distracted by their phone at the wheel.

In the 18-24 age bracket, the total was much higher with 33 per cent admitting to regularly checking their phone at the wheel.

Being visually distracted caused seven per cent of incidents and passengers caused five per cent.

Jim Murray Jones, general manager for Exchange and Mart said: “Our survey results reveal that men and women are equally and most commonly distracted by their passengers, ensuring the air con is ‘just so’ and the music choice is to their liking.

"However, men are more prone to being distracted by eating and drinking than women, who are sidetracked by adjusting mirrors, seatbelts and seat positioning.

"Whatever the distraction, as many as 72 per cent of drivers have admitted to multitasking whilst driving and as such are putting themselves and their passengers at considerable risk."

It is illegal to drive while using a mobile phone and motorists caught by the police will receive 3 points on their driving licence and £100 fine.

Mr Murray Jones said: “There are three forms of distracted driving, visual, manual and cognitive.

"Visual distractions will lead to the driver’s eyes being taken from the road, manual distractions cause the driver to take one or both hands from the wheel and cognitive is similar to visual, but will lead to the driver’s attention being drawn away.

"It’s astonishing to realise that around 95 per cent of all road accidents can be blamed in part to human error. However, a staggering 75 per cent of these can be wholly blamed on human errors."

This week marks Road Safety Week, which is aimed at reminding all motorists to stop and think about things they do which could be putting themselves and others at risk.

Exchange and Mart has launched its Distracted Driving website, offering motorists a vital guide to driving safely and avoiding distractions.

Top ten driver distractions:

  • Loss of concentration through tiredness
  • Mobile phone usage
  • Looking at something outside, other than the road - advertisements or a road accident
  • Passengers
  • Using external devices, such as a sat nav or hands free equipment (excluding mobile phones)
  • Eating and drinking
  • Fiddling with the car radio/in-car entertainment or heating/air con
  • Adjusting seatbelts, seat positioning and mirrors
  • Insects in the car e.g. spiders and wasps
  • Lighting, smoking and extinguishing a cigarette