A Roadside Study of Observable Driver Distractions

Abstract

This work provides further evidence of the relatively high rate of distracted driving in the UK. The findings clearly indicate that younger drivers are more likely to drive distracted, which probably contributes to their higher crash rates.

Road lighting and distraction whilst driving: Establishing the significant types of distraction

“…Kidd et al [Kidd et al 2016] found that hands-free was less frequently observed (5.5%) than hand-held mobile phone use (39.74%). In contrast, Sullman et al [Sullman et al 2015] found that hands-free activity (10.12%) was more frequently observed than hand-held phone use (4.17%). This difference between these studies could be attributed to the criteria used to define hands-free use, with Kidd…”

The reaction times of drivers aged 20 to 80 during a divided attention driving

“…Further studies are needed to test this assumption in the broader context of driving performance. Second, the driver safety literature is generally based on on-road observations, such as Sullman et al (2015), and off-road assessments, including simulator-based studies (Papantoniou et al 2015). The current study is neither of these.…”

Cigarette prices and driving fatalities among youths

“…The process of multi-tasking while driving can be detrimental among novice youths compared to experienced drivers (Durbin et al, 2014). The relatively recent studies (McEvoy, Stevenson and Woodward, 2006;Prat et al, 2015;Sullman, Prat and Tasci, 2015) provide direct survey evidence of smoking as one of the major causes of distraction while driving. A reduction in prevalence of smoking due to increases in cigarettes prices and taxes in venues including motor vehicles can reduce instances of distracted driving.…”

“…A strand of literature that focuses on the eects of smoking on public health outcomes nds that smoking reduction, particularly due to increases in cigarette prices and taxes, lead to an increased life expectancy and improved birth and infant health outcomes (Evans and Ringel, 1999;Markowitz, 2008;Markowitz et al, 2013;Simon, 2016). Similarly, several studies consistently suggest smoking as a risk factor contributing to motor vehicle collision (Brison, 1990;Christie, 1991;Violanti and Marshall, 1996;Stutts et al, 2001;Mangiaracina and Palumbo, 2006;Young, Regan and Hammer, 2007;Prat et al, 2015;Lansdown, Stephens and Walker, 2015;Sullman, Prat and Tasci, 2015).…”