A new US study says motorists are distracted by reaching for their phone, eating, or adjusting their stereo or air conditioning for one second out of every ten.

The study found that teenagers were the most likely to take their eyes off the road - accounting for only six per cent of drivers, but 14 per cent of reported crashes.

However even more experienced drivers were discovered to be twice as likely to be involved in an accident if they were distracted from the road.