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According to a Survey by Continental Tyres, which forms part of its Vision Zero initiative - a commitment to reduce road fatalities worldwide - almost half of Irish motorists would support the introduction of technology that would disable some smartphone features when behind the wheel.
Of those surveyed, 46 per cent said that they would agree with the introduction of such technology, while 26 per cent said that such tech would be a better solution than piling on penalty points for mobile phone use.
More than a third of the respondents (36 per cent) said that the use of a mobile phone behind the wheel had become 'normalised' and that there was an increasing view that it is harmless. 23 per cent said that they find it difficult to be disconnected from their phone when behind the wheel, while 62 per cent feel it is OK to use a phone in stopped or slow moving traffic versus 22 per cent who said it is illegal to use a phone in any traffic situation.
64 per cent of Irish drivers admitted to using their phones for making and taking calls, or sending or receiving texts when behind the wheel, while 49 per cent said they use their phones when driving to access social media.
Head of Continental Tyres Ireland, Tom Dennigan, said: "Our research reveals that drivers know that their use of phones is illegal, distracting and dangerous, yet it is clear that many of them cannot help themselves. Nearly one in four, 23 per cent, told us they struggle to be digitally disconnected and 36 per cent felt that so many people now checked their mobile in traffic that the practice has become normalised. There are enormous strides being made in autonomous vehicle technology to deliver even greater safety. Yet our study identifies that we are unsure about allowing cars to take even more control of driving. But when we recognise our obvious failing in relation to the use of phones, nearly half of us want technology to step up and save us from ourselves. It points to the fascinating, probably unique, relationship we have with our cars and how the development of technologies is reshaping that."
Professor John Groeger, a specialist in driver psychology and author of 'Sharing the Driving' for Continental Tyres said: "It is really interesting that motorists want an enforced solution rather than to curb their own behaviour - yet there is no such system currently available. It is imperative that we find a way to resolve this as the 'switch cost' - the critical time it takes us to shift our concentration from a task like reading a text to again fully engaging in driving is so important in reducing accidents."