Research by NRMA Insurance has revealed drivers who text while driving spend almost 70% of the time looking at their phone instead of the road.

During a controlled road test conducted by the insurer, 10 drivers aged between 20 and 54 keyed an identical message while driving at 60 kmh.

Records of eye movements found the drivers glanced at their phones 38 times for an average length of 1.4 seconds – or 22 metres per glance.