In September and October 2013, the Belgian Road Safety Institute (IBSR) conducted the first survey of behaviour concerning illegal use of mobile phones (i.e. without a hands-free kit) while driving in Belgium. Other potentially distracting behaviours were also observed: the handling of objects/food, the dashboard and cigarettes while driving. For the first time, this survey makes it possible to obtain an estimate of the point in time prevalence of distracting behaviour at country level. Distraction is a growing problem that is important for road safety. The majority of international studies estimate that between 5 and 25 % of car accidents are due to distraction. Talking on a mobile phone while driving, in particular, increases the risk of accident threefold. Composing or reading a text message is even more dangerous, given that the driver's attention is focused on the screen and no longer on the road for varying periods of time. The study was conducted by means of direct observation, on the road, of the frequency at which drivers used mobile phones without hands-free kits or were engaged in activities unrelated to driving. (Author/publisher)
Abstract