Driver distraction: reflections on the past, present and future.

There is a large and converging body of evidence to suggest that certain activities, objects and events inside and outside the vehicle can, and do, distract drivers, leading to degraded driving performance, increased crash risk and crashes. The paper outlines recent and emerging technological developments and their potential impact on the driving task, including their potential to distract drivers. The paper then focuses on what is known more generally about driver distraction, what it being done to manage it, and what ought to be done in Australia to limit its impact on driver performance and safety. (a) For the covering record of this conference, please refer to ITRD abstract no E216954.