Drivers seek thrills while stuck in traffic

HOURS of gridlock are proving to be a welcome distraction to thousands of energetic drivers who use the time to catch-up on other activities, a new survey has revealed.

The shocking findings show young drivers enjoy everything from behind- the-wheel sexual thrills to eating burgers and sending countless text messages.

British car magazine Max Power surveyed almost 2,000 motorists about what they get up to on the road. According to the magazine one in five drivers have had sex and one in two received oral sex from their passenger.

And the Irish Automobile Association (AA) believes the same is happening here - but on a smaller scale.

It’s almost enough to prompt Transport Minister Seamus Brennan to introduce a new wave of penalty points for unmentionable offences.

“I don’t think the numbers are as high, but human nature doesn’t change in different countries,” AA spokesman Conor Faughnan said.

“All these offences are described in court under the ‘driving without due care charge,’ so we don’t have exact figures. It’s a dangerous cross-cultural phenomenon,” Mr Faughnan said.

The National Safety Council also believes that drivers are becoming increasingly distracted.

“The survey shows that there are several distractions for drivers everywhere. The kernel of the story is that reckless driving leads to death or serious injury. Our advertisements have tried to show this,” NSC spokesman Brian Farrell said.

Seven in 10 drivers said they use a mobile phone while driving, even though one in two admitted that it could be dangerous.

One in every two drivers has sent text messages, one in four has rolled a cannabis joint and four in 10 have eaten a burger while driving. The AA said drivers usually begin writing a text message when the car is halted, but they continue writing when traffic moves again.

“It’s very dangerous but it does happen frequently. All these activities can lead to accidents,” Mr Faughnan said.

Max Power editor John Sootheran believes the findings are understandable given the pressures of modern life.

“All these activities are dangerous and possibly illegal distractions for drivers, but with our busy working and social lives we all spend more and more time in our cars, so perhaps these results are to be expected,” he said.

The full list of results will be published in the next edition of the magazine.