Australian motorists are reporting increased confidence in using mobile phones while driving, according to a recent survey conducted by Budget Direct.
The survey, which gathered responses from 1,000 drivers, found that 22% now feel confident using their phones while operating a vehicle.
This figure has risen steadily from 12% in 2020 and 19% in 2023, highlighting a trend that may have implications for road safety and insurance claims.
Nearly half of the respondents (45%) acknowledged using their mobile phones while driving within the previous two weeks.
The most common activity was accessing navigation apps (23%), followed by checking phones at traffic lights (8%). Other reported uses included changing music tracks (over 6%) and reading or responding to text messages (3%).
When asked about their motivations, 44% of participants said they felt safe and capable of managing phone use while driving, while 17% described it as a habitual action. Another 15% cited emergencies as their reason for using a phone behind the wheel.
Jonathan Kerr, chief growth officer at Budget Direct, commented on the evolving role of mobile devices.
“They’re your phone, your email, your internet, your social media, your diary, even your driver’s licence and wallet. That poses some unexpected grey areas. For example, in some states, it may be illegal to use your phone to pay at the drive-through,” he said.
Recent updates to regulations in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and South Australia now permit tap-and-go payments with mobile phones at drive-throughs.
In other states, drivers are required to put their vehicle in park before handling their device for payment.
The survey revealed that 54% of respondents believe it should be legal to use a phone for such payments, while 29% support the practice only if the car is turned off, and 18% do not support it under any circumstances.
Despite growing confidence in phone use, 30% of those surveyed identified texting while driving as the riskiest behaviour likely to result in a fatal crash, ranking it above speeding (18%) and not wearing a seatbelt (5%).
Drink driving was considered the most dangerous by 40% of respondents. Among older drivers, the perception shifted, with a higher percentage viewing texting as more hazardous than drink driving.
Asked what would most effectively discourage phone use while driving, 35% of respondents pointed to stricter penalties, while 23% cited the use of mobile detection cameras.
Increased public awareness campaigns were preferred by 18%, but over 12% of drivers felt that no intervention would be effective.
A separate study by AAMI further examined the issue of distracted driving. According to its findings, 38% of drivers had experienced an accident or near-miss due to distraction, and almost 90% admitted to having driven while distracted at some point.
Cognitive distractions, such as thinking about personal matters, were identified by 36% as a primary factor.
The AAMI research also found that one in four drivers acknowledged being distracted by mobile devices or smartwatches, and 60% reported adjusting entertainment or navigation systems while driving.
Additional distractions included observing roadside incidents (40%), watching other drivers or pedestrians (40%), and eating or drinking while driving (65%).
Russell White, CEO of the Australian Road Safety Foundation, highlighted the growing impact of distraction on road safety outcomes.
“Distraction has become one of the major contributing factors in serious crashes. It’s easy to forget you’re travelling in a fast-moving, heavy machine. The data shows it’s now rivalling fatigue and speeding as a major cause of road trauma,” he said.
He explained that distractions can be visual, manual, or cognitive, and that mobile phones are particularly problematic as they require attention in all three areas.
“Your choices matter. Every time you drive, you control the outcome. Whatever it is – the text, the call, the quick glance – it can all wait,” White said.
