Some increases in dangerous driving habits - Survey

Motorists here have a mismatch in their perception and reality of dangerous road driving behaviour, according to a road safety survey released by insurance company AXA yesterday.

While more than 80 per cent of those surveyed perceived driving and using a mobile phone without a hands-free kit as well as tailgating as dangerous, about 40 per cent of them still engaged in such conduct.

Figures from the Traffic Police showed a worrying increase in the number of offenders caught for using a mobile phone while driving. There were 1,666 motorists who were caught in the first half of this year, about 500 more than those caught in the same period last year.

The number of motorists caught for drink driving have, however, been falling, with the latest statistics showing 1,377 for the first half of this year, about 100 fewer than those caught in the same period last year.

Also, compared to last year's survey, there was an 11-per-cent decrease in the number of respondents speeding.

There were, however, some increases in dangerous driving habits. For example, 71 per cent of motorists polled dashed through an amber light as compared to 69 per cent the year before, and more drove without a seatbelt.

AXA chief executive Chua Kim Soon felt the reasons behind dangerous road behaviour include motorists having poor time management, poor route planning and being impatient - factors which increase the risk of accidents.

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