Towards quantifying road risk: A case of distracted driving (original) (raw)
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Indications of high levels of inattentive and distracted driving in South Africa
2016
In 2015, the Road Traffic Management Corporation undertook a pilot study to investigate how prevalent driver inattention and distraction is in South Africa. Driver inattention and distraction is the leading factor in near-crashes in for instance the United States of America where indications are that 65 per cent of near-crashes involve some form of driver inattention within three seconds before an incident. This pilot project interrogated a small sample (non-representative) of naturalistic driving data collected from four drivers over a period of six months to explore whether or not South Africans are prone to distracted driving. Preliminary indications are that inattentive and/or distracted driving, including mobile phone use, distraction by passengers and other in-vehicle behaviours are indeed prevalent. In the majority of the data analysed, all drivers showed signs of general inattention and at least one type of distracted driving behaviour. The frequency with which these behavio...
Kiss of Death: Distracted Driving Related Behaviors
2015
The current study was an exploratory study to investigate the different types and prevalence of different distracted driving related behaviours (DDRBs) amongst the Botswana drivers. Data were collected via roadside observation using a log and pen and pencil. The observations took place in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana and seven researchers were involved in observations. In all observations, at least two researchers observed all drivers to identify those who were engaged in a secondary activity while driving. A total of 462 drivers engaging in DDRBs were recorded and the results revealed that amongst Batswana drivers, the most common distraction were: talking on the cell phone, looking around, talking to other occupants in the car, drinking or eating, texting on the phone, looking at oneself on the mirror/putting make-up/wearing glasses, fiddling with car controls, reading newspapers or maps, smoking cigarettes, and singing or dancing-in that order. Given the seemingly limited traffic related research in Botswana, the results of this study will help in raising awareness about the dangers of DDRBs and to also inform policies and actions related to the DDRBs. We also hope to promote similar research activities in Botswana.
The current study was an exploratory study to investigate the different types and prevalence of different distracted driving related behaviours (DDRBs) amongst the Botswana drivers. Data were collected via roadside observation using a log and pen and pencil. The observations took place in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana and seven researchers were involved in observations. In all observations, at least two researchers observed all drivers to identify those who were engaged in a secondary activity while driving. A total of 462 drivers engaging in DDRBs were recorded and the results revealed that amongst Batswana drivers, the most common distraction were: talking on the cell phone, looking around, talking to other occupants in the car, drinking or eating, texting on the phone, looking at oneself on the mirror/putting make-up/wearing glasses, fiddling with car controls, reading newspapers or maps, smoking cigarettes, and singing or dancing -in that order. Given the seemingly limited traffic related research in Botswana, the results of this study will help in raising awareness about the dangers of DDRBs and to also inform policies and actions related to the DDRBs. We also hope to promote similar research activities in Botswana.
Injury Prevention, 2006
To quantify the prevalence and effects of distracting activities while driving. Design: Cross sectional driver survey. Setting: New South Wales and Western Australia, Australia. Participants: 1347 licensed drivers aged between 18 and 65 years. Data were weighted to reflect the corresponding driving population. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of distracting activities while driving; perceived risks and adverse outcomes due to distractions. Results: The most common distracting activities during the most recent driving trip were lack of concentration (weighted percentage (standard error, SE) 71.8% (1.4%) of drivers); adjusting in-vehicle equipment (68.7% (1.5%)); outside people, objects or events (57.8% (1.6%)); and talking to passengers (39.8% (1.6%)). On average, a driver engaged in a distracting activity once every six minutes. One in five crashes (21%) during the last three years, involving one in 20 drivers (5.0% (0.7%)), was attributed to driver distraction based on self-report. In the population under study, this equated to 242,188 (SE 34,417) drivers. Younger drivers (18-30 years) were significantly more likely to report distracting activities, to perceive distracting activities as less dangerous, and to have crashed as a result. Conclusions: Distracting activities while driving are common and can result in driving errors. Driver distraction is an important cause of crashes. Further research is needed to estimate the risk conferred by different distracting activities and the circumstances during which activities pose greatest risk. These results suggest that a strategy to minimize distracting activities while driving, with a focus on young drivers, is indicated. Key points N Driver distraction is an important cause of crashes and a range of activities can contribute. N Younger drivers are more likely to report distracting activities while driving, to perceive distracting activities as less dangerous, and to have crashed as a result of a distraction.
Kiss of Death : Distracted Driving Related Behaviors Among Drivers in Botswana
2013
The current study was an exploratory study to investigate the different types and prevalence of different distracted driving related behaviours (DDRBs) amongst the Botswana drivers. Data were collected via roadside observation using a log and pen and pencil. The observations took place in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana and seven researchers were involved in observations. In all observations, at least two researchers observed all drivers to identify those who were engaged in a secondary activity while driving. A total of 462 drivers engaging in DDRBs were recorded and the results revealed that amongst Batswana drivers, the most common distraction were: talking on the cell phone, looking around, talking to other occupants in the car, drinking or eating, texting on the phone, looking at oneself on the mirror/putting make-up/wearing glasses, fiddling with car controls, reading newspapers or maps, smoking cigarettes, and singing or dancing – in that order. Given the seemingly lim...
Driver distraction and road safety in Greece and internationally
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive picture of the impact of driver distraction on road safety in Greece and internationally. For that purpose a review of international literature and a synthesis of the results were carried out, concerning both in-vehicle distraction sources (e.g. mobile phone use, reading, adjusting the radio) and external distraction sources (e.g. advertising signs, destination search, pedestrian or cyclist). S ubsequently, the results of analyses concerning basic in-vehicle and external driver distraction factors are presented.
This research will be helpful in the review for approaches that can be used to solve the increasing challenges of distracted driving. The study will involve the discovery of statistics that relate to accidents as a result of distracted driving. More than three thousand deaths can be prevented per year if people were to decrease the act of texting while driving (Auto Safety, 2013). The most common age-group that texts while drives is the age between 16 and 20. Therefore, the primary research will be conducted to the student audience (Carpenter & Nguyen ). In the research, a general driving and mobile phone usage statistics will be included. The primary research in the study will be conducted via questionnaires and short interviews. Participants are students aged between 18 and 22. On the completion of this study, students will have gained knowledge on the
Talking, eating, drinking and uncontrolled steering: a South African example of distrated driving
2012
Road safety reports indicate that "the human" is the largest contributory factor in South African fatal crashes. Yet little is known about human factors in South African road safety. A better understanding of contributing behaviours such as distraction could assist in addressing road safety behaviour. Internationally a good deal of research has been dedicated to investigating the contribution that distracted driving practices play in crashes and near-crashes. This research paper provides an overview of how the Naturalistic Driving Studies (NDS) methodology was utilised in a small (non-representative) experiment to observe South African driver behaviour in an everyday setting. The findings provided insight related to a number of driver behaviour issues such as traffic conflicts, traffic violations and distracted driving. The most prominent distracted driving behaviours identified included: adjusting the radio, eating and drinking while driving (which led to uncontrolled steering behaviour) and mobile phone use. The focus of this paper is to disseminate findings related to distraction while driving in a South African setting. The paper provides an overview of the NDS methodology followed, findings from the experiment related to distractions and driving and concludes with the identification of possible research questions for future consideration.