Australians use their phones during one in every seven car trips, putting road users and pedestrians at risk, IAG brand ROLLiN’ says after evaluating more than 18 million kilometres of customer driving data.

ROLLiN’s telematics app monitors behaviours such as speeding, hard braking and cornering. It also detects when a vehicle is in motion and a driver picks up the phone, unlocks the home screen or opens an app.

EM Brendan Griffiths says if a vehicle is travelling at the average speed of 50km/h, almost three car lengths will pass each second that a driver’s eyes are on their phone. 

“On an average 10km car trip, it means a vehicle is travelling a distance of about 400 metres while the driver is distracted by their phone,” he said.

“That’s the same as driving around an athletic track with your eyes closed.”

The app’s data for 30 days to mid-March shows 91% of customers were detected using their phones while driving, at an average speed of 43km/h.

SA drivers are least likely to use their phones, averaging one instance every nine trips. WA and Victoria are joint worst at one every six trips, and drivers in Queensland, NSW and ACT rank equal second, despite the northern state having the toughest penalties.  

Rollin’ says women have an average driver safety score of 89.1, with men at 88.8, but women are more likely to use their phones when on the road.

Safety improves with age, the data shows. Drivers under 25 score 85.6 on average, rising to 89 for 25- to 34-year-olds, 91.5 for ages 35-44, and 92.7 for those 45 and over. 

Friday from 5pm-6pm is the riskiest weekday period. At the weekend, incidents spike on Saturdays and Sundays between noon and 2pm, probably due to increased traffic, social outings and more distracted drivers.

ROLLiN’ launched its Safe ’n Save app in 2023, with customers offered premium discounts based on driving behaviours.