Jesus, take the wheel.
More than a quarter of Gen Zers living in the UK feel an urge to check their cellphone after less than 15 minutes of driving, according to new research conducted by Carmats.co.uk.
But it looks like Zoomers — defined as the generation born between the years 1997 and 2012 — weren’t the only ones who admitted to feeling the urge to reach for their phones while behind the wheel.
The poll, which surveyed 1,366 UK drivers 17 years old and up, also found that one-third of Brits of all ages thought about checking their phones while driving.
And one out of 12 people even admitted to texting on their phones while driving, while four out of 10 confessed to using their cell while on the road.
Of course, not only is using your cellphone while driving extremely dangerous, but in the US it is also illegal in some states.
In New York, it’s illegal to use a phone while driving for talking, playing games, taking or looking at photos, ajd “composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages, or webpages,” , per the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
Using your phone while driving will also result in points being added to your license — and if you receive 11 points within 18 months, your license will be suspended.
Similarly, in the UK, where the survey was conducted, it is illegal to use or even hold a cellphone while driving or riding a motorcycle.
If Brits are caught violating this law, they’re required to pay a hefty fine, of up to £1,000 ($1,200).
The research also looked at texting while driving as a practice that people find irritating.
Nearly half of those surveyed — 47% — described someone else using a phone while driving as “annoying,” with the practice coming in at No. 4 in the list of top 20 most annoying driving habits.
Ranked No. 1 was “failing to indicate,” or signal a turn or move.
This new data arrives comes just months after another study found that Gen Z was driving less than other generations.
According to Federal Highway Administration data analyzed by Green Car Congress, the number of 18-year-olds who had their driver’s license in 2018 fell nearly 20 percent from 1983 (from 80% down to 61%).
But, interestingly enough, the poll also gathered data for other topics related to motor vehicles, including how driving affects people’s dating lives.
Almost a third of those living in the UK found that owning a car has helped to improve their dating lives, while one in five Gen Zers said it’s actually hindered it.
About 35% of British men admitted that having a car was “beneficial for their romantic pursuits,” and 67% revealed that having a sports car helped their cause as well.
And, of course, one in five admitted to having sex in their cars — where having a sports car translated into having a successful dating life, according to some surveyed.
Source
