It is unclear just how much damage those who text or talk on the phone while driving do, but we do know a number of things about the people most likely to engage in this dangerous practice.
Vísir reports that neither the police, insurance companies nor The Icelandic Transport Authority can say how much damage is done by phone-driving, for the simple fact that most people lie about it when asked, post-accident, if they were using their phones at the time.
Sigurjón Andrésson, the marketing director of the insurance company Sjóvá, told reporters that while the damage may be hard to quantify, phone-driving has been on the rise, and we know something about the self-reported demographics of those who do it.
According to a Gallup poll conducted for Sjóvá, about 30% of drivers admitted to texting while driving, and about 90% of respondents said the practice is dangerous. Some demographics are also more likely to engage in phone-driving than others, with middle-aged, high income men being the most likely of all.
Sigurjón emphasises that there is no phone call or text that is so important that it is worth risking your life over.
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