Survey Reveals Drivers are Distracted, Lack Basic Skills

Some 68% of drivers admit they multi-task behind the wheel and 14% say they brake too harshly or turn too fast, according to a recent survey by tire manufacturer Hankook.

Like many other surveys, the findings of this latest one indicate distracted driving remains a common problem. Of those respondents who confessed to multi-tasking, 24% said they sing loudly while driving, 21% eat, 11% text, and 3% shave or apply cosmetics while operating their vehicle. 

In addition, the findings point to safety concerns beyond distracted driving. For example, 13% of respondents say they lack basic parallel parking skills, and Gen Z respondents were more than twice as likely to acknowledge they turn too fast compared to older generations.

Noteworthy, too, 28% of drivers admit they either can’t change a tire, or never rotate their tires. This is a genuine safety concern as regular rotation helps ensure even wear and tread, which in turn can impact not only on a vehicle’s ride but also on grip — especially when driving on wet roads. 

Millennials are the group most likely to know how to change a tire, with 88% saying they can manage the task. 

On the upside, drivers do seem to carry emergency and maintenance equipment in their vehicles. Nearly two out of every three drivers (64%), regardless of age, say they own a tire jack, making it one of the top three car maintenance tools drivers own, in addition to a tire pressure gauge (65%) and a set of jumper cables (67%).