One in five motorists checks an update while on the road.

Brits may be keeping track of a parcel delivery while driving, as a growing trend for checking social media updates while on the road emerges.

Research from the RAC found that one in five (21 per cent) motorists admit to taking a peek at alerts from social media sites like Facebook or Twitter while in the car, either moving or stationary.

The top five sites that people use while motoring are email, Google Maps, music, photos and Facebook, which is checked by seven per cent of drivers.

The study also notes that the number of drivers taking calls and text messages while in a car has tripled over the last year.

RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink commented: "This steep rise in mobile phone usage at the wheel could potentially be set to continue as more and more people embrace smartphone technology."

The news comes as a report from the Smart Card Alliance Payments Council points to a changing advertising and marketing landscape brought about by the rapid adoption of smartphones.

Posted by Rob Elliott

Article Added: 15/10/2010 16:43:26