UK motorists need to be aware of the significant risks that being distracted at the wheel can pose to all road users.

New research from insurer Admiral has revealed how more than one-fifth (22 per cent) of UK drivers have admitted to shunting another car in the rear due to their own lack of attention.

Furthermore, 23 per cent of respondents admitted to having almost veered off the road due to being distracted. The extent to which this has become a regular occurence on the nation's roads should in itself ring alarm bells for all road users.

The main factors that lead to driver distraction were also highlighted by the study's participants, including:

• Having young children in the car (41 per cent)
• Passengers (32 per cent)
• Pets (12 per cent)
• Attractive pedestrians (11 per cent)
• Mobile phones (11 per cent)

Admiral spokesman Justin Beddows said: "Our research suggests too many drivers are having accidents due to a lack of concentration. Within the last year alone, Admiral has dealt with more than 40,000 claims where a customer has hit another driver in the rear.

"While not all of these will be down to not paying attention, losing concentration can easily result in you bumping another car."

Overall, Admiral's own data showed the company has dealt with more than 3,000 claims in the last 12 months where individuals have veered into embankments as a result of being distracted at the wheel, while 20,000 claims were processed where motorists had driven into a parked car.