The survey, commissioned by Ford Motor Company, reveals widespread inattentive driving habits across the Asia-Pacific area, including texting, eating and taking selfies while behind the wheel
The company's survey of 1997 drivers in the region revealed that 59 per cent of respondent motorists in China used instant messaging app Weixin, 56pc of surveyed drivers in India made and received calls while 47pc of surveyed Thai drivers used Line or other chat apps in moving traffic while driving.
Approximately 42pc of Filipino drivers admitted to taking a selfie while driving, ahead of their counterparts in China (31pc), Thailand (30pc), India (23pc), and Australia (7pc).
The company said it has found that snapping a "selfie" at the wheel could distract a driver for up to 14 seconds, and checking social media distracts for as much as 20 seconds – the period that is long enough, at 100km/hour, to travel the length of five football pitches.
On social media use while driving, 48pc of drivers in the Philippines said they used Facebook behind the wheel, alongside 45pc of Thai drivers and 16pc of Australian drivers. About 36pc of Chinese drivers admitted of using social media platform Weibo.
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