Thais among Asia-Pacific’s least attentive drivers

Rather than keeping their eyes on the road, Thais are among the top three "most distracted drivers" in the Asia-Pacific region, behind China and India, according to a recent survey.

The survey, commissioned by Ford Motor Company, reveals widespread inattentive driving habits across the Asia-Pacific area, including texting, eating and taking selfies while behind the wheel

The company's survey of 1997 drivers in the region revealed that 59% of respondent motorists in China used instant messaging app Weixin, 56% of surveyed drivers in India made and received calls while 47% of surveyed Thai drivers used Line or other chat apps in moving traffic while driving.

Approximately 42% of Filipino drivers admitted to taking a selfie while driving, ahead of their counterparts in China (31%), Thailand (30%), India (23%), and Australia (7%).

The company said it has found that snapping a "selfie" at the wheel could distract a driver for up to 14 seconds, and checking social media distracts for as much as 20 seconds – the period that is long enough, at 100km/hour, to travel the length of five football pitches.

On social media use while driving, 48% of drivers in the Philippines said they used Facebook behind the wheel, alongside 45% of Thai drivers and 16% of Australian drivers. About 36% of Chinese drivers admitted of using social media platform Weibo.