IT seems that many drivers on their way to work slip off into another world.

I came across this piece of research from Continental Tyres: on average a third of most people’s journey will be zoned out. In other words, unaware or inattentive of the actual traffic conditions around them.

The research found the average driver is on the road for 45 minutes a day and that they are in their own little world for 17 minutes of this time. They make an average of three trips in their car each day. They are distracted at least three times on each journey and for at least four seconds each time. At just 40 mph a car will travel over 18 metres every second.

I quizzed Continental’s Guy Frobisher about the results. He told me: “Our fast-paced lives can mean little time to fit everything in, but driving is no time for multi-tasking. Our advice is to avoid distractions like eating or drinking or making a phone call, even if hands-free. You could prevent an accident.

I couldn’t agree more.

For the record, here are the most common driver distractions. But the one that scares me the most is number 11. If your small business doesn’t have a company car policy – particularly for mobile phone use – then now is probably the time you should.

Top 20 driving distractions

1. Re-tuning the radio/inserting a CD into the player

2. Talking to a passenger

3. Looking at scenery

4. Eating

5. Listening to loud music

6. Reaching into the glovebox

7. Looking at houses

8. Drinking

9. Other drivers in cars next to you

10. Passengers asking questions

11. Texting

12. Trying to unwrap a sweet

13. Talking on the mobile phone

14. Looking at a hot girl/bloke

15. Shop windows

16. Kids in the back seat shouting, or playing up

17. Trying to read a map

18. SATNAV

19. Looking at billboards

20. Singing

Source: Continental Tyres

The dangers of the daily commute