A staggering thirty per cent of Tasmanians aged 18 – 29 are risking their lives behind the wheel by
using their mobile phones without hands-free devices, and alarmingly the figures across all age
groups are on the rise, according to research conducted by RACT Insurance.

RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers said the figure represented an increase of eight per cent from the
previous year and close to triple the state average of 12 per cent for those driving while using a
mobile not on hands free, highlighting the need for immediate action.

“The data also revealed 29 per cent of those aged 18 – 29 regularly check messages and emails while
driving – again close to three times the state average of 11 per cent and up 10 per cent from last
year, with the second worst offenders being those aged 30 – 39, at 15 per cent,” Mr Sayers said.

“The younger generations are not the only offenders with 24 per cent of those aged 30 – 49
regularly using the phone when not on hands free, a three-fold increase on the previous year, as well
as some 15 per cent checking messages or emails while driving, close to double of the previous
year.”

Mr Sayers said the reckless and illegal behaviour illustrated in these statistics, across all age groups,
is quite concerning and has significant safety implications for all road users, not just the driver
undertaking such dangerous acts.

“All drivers have a responsibility to their fellow road users to drive with care and diligence, which
starts by correcting these potentially fatal behaviours,” he said.

“Driving can be dangerous even when you’re paying full attention to the road conditions, so to
attempt to talk or check emails or texts while in control of a moving vehicle is incredibly reckless
behaviour.”

Mr Sayers said RACT had advocated for measures to combat driver inattention, particularly mobile
phone use, to see increased driver education, more severe penalties for mobile phone use while
driving as well as more resources to allow for Police enforcement.

“We need to create a deterrent for this type of behaviour sooner rather than later – we owe it to all
Tasmanians to ensure our roads are as safe as possible,” he said.

The current penalty for being caught while driving without a hands free device is $300 and 3 demerit
points, which is almost double the cost of most hands free devices.

STATS:
Behavioural observations (source: Nature – Research – Analytics – Insights, online survey conducted
for RACT Insurance with a representative group of 632 Tasmanians between 14/10/14 and
22/10/14)
> Regularly use the phone while not on hands free:
2012 2013 2014
18 – 29 13% 22% 30%
30 – 49 13% 8% 24%
50+ 3% 5% 7%
> Check messages or emails while driving:
2012 2013 2014
18 – 29 13% 19% 29%
30 – 49 14% 8% 15%
50+ 5% 3% 9%
> Easily distracted by GPS, Radio or phone:
2012 2013 2014
18 – 29 14% 20% 17%
30 – 49 22% 6% 24%
50+ 10% 13% 9%
RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers