NOS News•today, 09:41
Cyclists, motorists and pedestrians are increasingly using their phones while on the road. There has been an increase in particular among adults. The percentage of adult road users who sometimes use a telephone increased from 66.1 in 2017 to 74.9 in 2023.
This is evident from a report by SWOV, the scientific institute for road safety research. It examines mobile phone use in traffic once every two years with online questionnaires, on behalf of the insurer Interpolis.
The researchers looked at various traffic actions among adults. They discovered that road users are gaming more while on the road than six years ago. The percentage of adults who sometimes play games on their bike increased from 4.3 percent in 2017 to 13 percent last year, and among drivers this increased from 3.3 percent to 11.4 percent.
Adult road users are also taking more photos and videos than in 2017. Among cyclists, 28.5 percent did this in 2017, compared to about 10 percentage points more last year. Among motorists, this share increased from 15.3 percent in 2017 to 24.9 percent in 2023. In addition, since the corona crisis, online meetings have been held more often in traffic, the researchers say. Other activities behind the wheel or on the bike include calling, sending messages, reading messages, setting navigation and putting on music.
Few fines
The majority of respondents in the survey indicate that they do not consider their phone use in traffic to be a problem. Both adults and young people say they think they can use their phones safely, or that they hardly use their phones at all.
Few respondents also say they have had to deal with a fine or accident as a result of using telephones in traffic. This may be because they drive slower with their phone, or only use it in places where they consider the traffic situation to be less risky.
Since July 1, 2019, it has been prohibited to hold a phone while cycling. The fine for this was initially 95 euros, now it is 160 euros. Motorists must pay 420 euros if they are caught with a phone in their hand.
