Inside-the-vehicle distractions are seen as part of a larger set of distractions that drivers have to contend with everyday, and these distractions are accepted as a normal part of driving. Many participants in this study thought these distractions were within the driver's control, and could be stopped at any time to deal with a traffic situation posing more risk. The participants perceived safety issues to be related to a driver having their eyes off the road and sometimes only one hand (or no hands) on the steering wheel. The participants discussed a wide range of inside-the-vehicle distractions while driving and the associated behaviours (e.g., text-messaging, interacting with a passenger, reaching for an item, rolling a cigarette, selecting a CD, adjusting the climate control, eating and drinking etc.). The researchers concluded that certain behaviours such as dialling and text-messaging on a cell phone, reading a map, and rolling a cigarette while driving were more likely to be affected by a public awareness campaign as there was a greater understanding of their road safety implications. The researchers recommended that a public awareness campaign should focus on the attention required for driving, as this was more meaningful for drivers and would stop them from classifying distractions into things they can and cannot control. (a) For the covering record of the conference, please refer to ITRD abstract no E216954.
Samenvatting