Iceland Sees Significant Reduction In Phone Driving

Driving while talking on the phone or texting has decreased dramatically in Iceland over the past few years, but a third of Icelanders still do it, a new poll from MMR shows.

Bear in mind that the poll is self-reporting; it is based on those who admit to doing these things. That said, the percentage of Icelanders who admitted to talking on the phone without hands-free equipment while driving has decreased from 71% in 2010 to 34% last month.

By the same token, those who said they text while driving decreased from 23% just two years ago to 16% today; those reporting going online on the phone while driving went from 12% to 6% over the same period, as did those who said they have taken photos with their phones while driving. Incredibly, 1% said they play games on their phones while driving, up from 0% last year.

In terms of demographics, the biggest offenders when it comes to phone driving are men between the ages of 18 and 29. Or at least, as far as those who admit it are concerned.

It is not known if the decrease is directly linked to the fine for phone driving increasing from 5,000 ISK to 40,000 ISK last May.