Too Many Distractions
In an innovative 2003 study of driver distractions, researchers used in-car video cameras to see how 70 drivers behaved when they were behind the wheel. The tapes showed that in three hours of driving, all of the drivers were distracted at some point, 90 per cent by something outside the car and 100 per cent by something inside.
All subjects manipulated vehicle controls. Nearly all reached for objects in the vehicle. Most manipulated the sound system or were distracted by objects or events outside the vehicle. About one-third of subjects used a cell phone while driving, and 40 per cent engaged in reading or writing. Drivers engaged in some form of potentially distracting activity up to 16 per cent of the total time their vehicles were moving. Child passengers were about four times, and infants about eight times, more likely to cause distraction than adult passengers.
In the 2003 Nerves of Steel survey commissioned by TheSteelAlliance and Canada Safety Council, 80 per cent of drivers admitted to multi-tasking behind the wheel. The telephone survey asked 886 drivers across Canada what tasks they combined with driving over the past year.
- Almost two-thirds admitted to drinking beverages such as coffee or soft drinks.
- More than half had eaten while behind the wheel.
- Over one-third said they had used a cell phone.
- Over one-quarter had argued with passengers.
When asked what tasks they had seen other drivers doing while behind the wheel, the most common response, given by four out of five respondents, was using a cell phone.
Legislation Requires Evaluation
Broad-based studies by respected Canadian and American road safety researchers have found that mobile phones are one of many potentially dangerous driver distractions. Yet a driver holding a phone annoys other road users more than a driver eating a donut or burger. The irritation has led to demands for legislation to prohibit drivers from using hand-held cell phones.
To date, no jurisdiction has demonstrated safety improvements resulting from such legislation.
Most European countries do not allow drivers to use hand-held cell phones. However, the EU has no data on the level of enforcement or trends in collisions tied to car phone use.
A similar ban took effect in Newfoundland on April 1, 2003. An assessment of the impact on traffic safety in that province would be valuable to other Canadian jurisdictions.
Such an evaluation should include 'before and after' data on collisions tied to driver use of a cell phone, as well as a control or comparison group. Currently there is no evidence whatsoever that a ban on hand-held car phones will prevent more collisions than an approach which combines enforcement of existing highway traffic laws with public education.
Highway traffic acts already address careless driving. For example, under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, drivers guilty of driving without due care and attention pay a fine from $200 to $1,000. Offenders also receive demerit points, which can significantly affect their insurance rates. Similar penalties apply in other provinces. These regulations apply regardless of the cause of distraction.
New Yorkers Flaunt Cell Phone Law
In November 2001, New York became the first American state to ban the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. The months after the enactment of the law saw a 50 per cent decline in cell phone use by drivers. However, a year later use rates had returned to the same level as before the law.
Before police started to warn violators in November 2001, researchers observed a hand-held phone use rate of 2.3 per cent. Several months after the ban, the rate had dropped to 1.1 per cent. However, by March 2003 the rate was back to 2.1 per cent.
As a control, the researchers also tracked phone use by drivers in Connecticut, where there is no ban. From November 2001 to March 2003 there was a small increase, from 2.9 per cent to 3.3 per cent. The comparison suggests that phone use among New York drivers may still be 20 per cent lower than it would have been with no ban. Nonetheless, it is obvious that many drivers are flaunting the law.
Eyes on the Road, Hands on the Wheel
Safety problems related to driver distraction could increase as new electronic devices make their way into personal vehicles. Wireless Internet, complex navigation systems, and entertainment systems are being built in to new vehicles. Transport Canada is looking at how to deal with the proliferation of technologies which can take drivers' attention off the driving task.
Regulation and enforcement are an important part of the safety picture. Equally important are safety conscious drivers. The Canada Safety Council offers these tips to minimize distractions and focus on the driving task:
- Always keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel.
- Ensure all children are properly buckled up.
- Consume food and beverages when the car is safely stopped.
- Review driving directions before you start.
- Avoid involved conversations with passengers.
- Use a hands-free device with your cell phone, keep conversations short, and never take notes while driving
Safety Canada January 2004
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