Drivers admit they succumb to deadly distractions

15 March 2007

Research launched today by Brake and Green Flag shows more than half (57%) of drivers admit to driving while distracted by changing the radio, talking on the mobile phone or distracted by passengers.

Half of drivers, from a poll of more than 1,000, even admitted to eating a meal while driving and more than a quarter said they change CDs or tapes while on move.

Research from Sweden shows these distractions, and others such as sat-nav systems, can be deadly. Reading a satellite navigation system while driving is potentially as dangerous as using a mobile phone at the wheel†. Adjusting the radio lengthens your reaction times and therefore increases the average stopping distance at 60mph from 59 to 85 metres and putting on make-up while driving trebles the risk of crashing†. Attempting to eat a packet of crisps while driving makes reaction times almost a third longer (29%) and rummaging through a bag or pocket adds 15 metres to your stopping distance at 60mph†.

In 2005, on roads in Great Britain, 387 people were killed or seriously injured in a crash where an in-vehicle distraction was a contributory factor†.

Key findings of the Brake and Green Flag Driven to Distraction? Report survey:

  • Six in ten drivers (57%) have driven while distracted by something in the vehicle
  • A third (30%) admitted being distracted while driving once a month or more
  • Half of drivers (50%) have eaten a meal while driving
  • More than a quarter (27%) admitted changing a CD or tape while driving

Pauline Bradley knows only too well the devastation a distracted driver can cause. She broke nearly every bone in her face and was in a coma for three weeks after being knocked down by a driver changing music in his car.

Case study:

On 15 February 2005, Pauline Bradley, of the West Midlands, was halfway across a zebra crossing when a car hit her. The driver admitted he didn't see Pauline as he was changing a music tape. Pauline was knocked unconscious. Her face and head took brunt of the crash and almost every bone in her face was broken. She now has metal plates in her head and her mouth had to be wired together as both her jaw and nose were broken. She was in a coma for three weeks. The driver was banned from driving for six months, fined £200 with £80 court costs.

Pauline said: "My life was turned upside down for the sake of changing a tape in the car. I urge every driver to wake up to the fact that they are driving a potentially lethal weapon. They should be concentrating 100% on the job of driving at all times if they want to get from A to B safely. Changing the radio, eating, phoning or looking at sat-nav takes your eyes and mind off the road so you could quite easily miss a pedestrian on a zebra crossing, like me."

Research suggests that drivers are spending up to a third of their journey looking away from the road while using dashboard-mounted devices and functions†.

In a recent response to a Department for Transport consultation on in-vehicle information systems legislation, Brake called for a compulsory licence for companies producing in-vehicle routing systems, such as sat-nav. Brake proposes the licence would only be granted to companies whose products meet certain safety criteria, such as not having a screen, which can cause a distraction to drivers, and relying instead on oral instructions only.

Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, said: "Concentrating on something inside your vehicle, such as a sat-nav screen or your stereo, is obviously taking your attention away from the road and the job in hand: driving. This greatly increases your chance of crashing. If you are hungry or thirsty, need to take or make a phone call or reach for something in the vehicle, it is essential that you stop somewhere safe and take a short break. It could mean the difference between life and death for you, your passengers and other road users."

Nigel Charlesworth, spokesperson for Green Flag, commented: "Drivers need to remember just how important it is to concentrate on driving as driver distraction causes so many road crashes. With so much happening outside the car it's important for drivers to keep their eyes on the road at all times and avoid putting themselves, their passengers and other road users at risk."

Brake is pleased that the Government recently increased the penalties for driving while using a hand-held mobile phone to a £60 fine with three penalty points. However, Brake thinks this still doesn't go far enough to deter drivers from this crime. And Brake wants to see a total ban on drivers using hands-free phones at the wheel as it is proven the conversation itself is a deadly distraction†. Brake believes the Government should also step up publicity on the dangers of using a mobile while driving and also highlight the dangers of distractions such as eating at the wheel and using a satellite navigation system. Brake is also calling for road policing to be a national priority with more traffic police to catch drivers on the phone or driving while distracted by some other activity.

For interviews with Brake and Pauline Bradley, call Dianne Ferreira on 01484 559909 or for interviews with Green Flag call Philippa Naylor or Nigel Charlesworth on 0113 3991387/1427.

ENDS

References:

†Swedish National Road and Transport Research Unit.
†National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 'The Impact of Driver Inattention on Near-crash/crash risk'.
†From research by Fleet News magazine
†Road Casualties of Great Britain 2005, Contributory Factors to Road Accidents
†From research by Auto Express motoring magazine
†McEvoy, Stephenson, McCartt, Woodward, Hayworth, Palamara and Cercarelli, 'Role of modern phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance: a case-crossover study', University of Western Australia, British Medical Journal, 20.08.05

Notes to editors

Brake is an independent national road safety charity. Brake exists to stop the nine deaths and 89 serious injuries that happen on UK roads every day and to care for families bereaved and seriously injured in road crashes. Brake produces educational road safety literature, runs community training programmes and runs events including Road Safety Week (5 - 11 November 2007). Brake's Fleet Safety Forum provides up-to-date fleet safety resources to fleet managers. BrakeCare, Brake's support division, cares for road crash victims through a helpline and other services.

Green Flag Motoring Assistance provides roadside rescue and recovery to over 5m customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Green Flag's incident management centre in Leeds manages around 1m breakdown incidents each year.

Survey results in full:

The research was carried out by Brake volunteers across the UK among a broad range of drivers. 1,002 people were questioned.

Respondents were asked: 'Within the past 12 months, have you driven while not concentrating, due to distractions in the vehicle, such as your mobile phone, stereo or a passenger?'

  • 1% answered about once a day or more frequently
  • 7% answered several times a week
  • 10% answered about once a week
  • 12% answered about once a month
  • 27% answered only once or twice
  • 41% answered no
  • 2% did not answer

Respondents were asked: 'In the past year, have you eaten a meal while driving?'

  • 1% answered about once a day or more frequently
  • 4% answered several times a week
  • 6% answered about once a week
  • 11% answered about once a month
  • 27% answered only once or twice
  • 50% answered no
  • 1% did not answer

Respondents were asked: 'Do you change CDs or tapes while driving?'

  • 43% said no
  • 29% said yes, but only when stationary in traffic
  • 27% said yes, including while in free-flowing traffic
  • 1% did not answer

Calls may be monitored and / or recorded.