RE: Drivers are easily distracted, finds research
Tuesday 22nd November 2005
No distractionsGuess what? Almost half of the UK's drivers aren't looking where they're going, putting themselves and others at risk as they struggle to keep their eyes on the road. So far, so obvious.
Drivers are easily distracted, finds research
People don't look where they're going
No distractions
According to research by Privilege Insurance, one in five drivers in the UK have become so distracted by roadside objects that they have veered out of lane. Roadside objects such as billboards, flashing signs and Christmas decorations cause a third of motorists to lose concentration while behind the wheel. 41 per cent of these drivers confess to being distracted for up to five seconds -- which equates to driving 15 car lengths at 30mph -- two and a half times the stopping distance needed at this speed.
Dr Mark Young, transport ergonomics expert at Brunel University, said: "While we currently know a lot more about in-vehicle distractions such as mobile phones than external distractors, there is a growing body of concern about the lack of any coherent strategy for arranging roadside furniture.
"Drivers' visual workload varies through the course of a journey, and at crucial times - negotiating a difficult roundabout, for example, there is a small but significant risk of distraction from novel stimuli like advertising. In fact, this risk is probably underestimated and we need to do more research on the possibility of excluding non-essential information when the driver is already busy dealing with the road."
Tips from Privilege to help drivers focus on the road include:
Take notice only of official signs and notices that are crucial for driving
When stationary keep your gaze on the traffic in front -- or any road signals [though a sharp eye in the rear-view mirror is also advisable. Ed].
Discussion
If only Privelege had gone on to research in a more scientific way (they have access to accident details after all) the proportion of accidents caused by drivers distracted by speed cameras, camera warning signs, safety camera partnership vehicles etc. Would be interesting to see how many more accidents are caused by these distracting drivers from the road and safe driving, then those apparently avoided by the use of such technology.
How very true. I find when things get "interesting", the biggest distraction of all is watching for "safety" cameras, "safety" partnership vans, plod cars, and of course a very close eye on the rear view mirror, added to watching for junctions, other road users inattention, and all the millions of other hazzards and it's wonder we ever get home in one piece ! Yes I know I wouldn't have to worry if not speeding etc., but in reality we've all been there. I'm one of those that won't accept I'm a master criminal if I stray over the limit now and again in the right place at the right time.
And people moan about how long they take their eyes of the road to look at their speedo!!!
Five seconds!? Nah - cameras aren't THAT distracting (you count it). Did the survey make up a list of each kind of distraction and how much attention it brought? I think we should be told... Anyway, hands up how many men taking part DIDN'T admit that they spent five seconds staring at the t*ts of some passing female pedestrian, lol!
JJ
Five seconds!? Nah - cameras aren't THAT distracting (you count it). Did the survey make up a list of each kind of distraction and how much attention it brought? I think we should be told... Anyway, hands up how many men taking part DIDN'T admit that they spent five seconds staring at the t*ts of some passing female pedestrian, lol!
JJ
I'll agree on the camera bit but not on the speedo bit...
As I've said before and I'll say again, checking speed takes no longer than checking mirrors...and if a driver can't do that safely (every few seconds or so - common sense applying of course!) then they ain't safe on the road full stop!
JJ
As I've said before and I'll say again, checking speed takes no longer than checking mirrors...and if a driver can't do that safely (every few seconds or so - common sense applying of course!) then they ain't safe on the road full stop!
JJ
jazzyjeff said:Just to play devil's advocate, the argument against this is focus - when you check your mirrors, you are still focusing on the distance. When checking the speedo, your eyes have to adjust to focus on the close object (dashboard) and then back again when looking back at the road.
checking speed takes no longer than checking mirrors...
LexSport said:
checking speed takes no longer than checking mirrors...
Well put LexSport, at the end of the day jazzyjeff taking your eyes off the road is just dangerous.
bunglist said:
checking speed takes no longer than checking mirrors...
Well put LexSport, at the end of the day jazzyjeff taking your eyes off the road is just dangerous.
roll on the day we just jack in ( ah-la johnny newmonic) to the car systems and see everything just in front of the car, would that make it easier to keep attention where it should be?
antispeed said:That's the idea behind the HUD available on the new 5er and others - it's designed to be focused beyond the end of the bonnet. And as you're looking straight ahead at it, you'll still be able to see what's going on on the road behind it.
and see everything just in front of the car, would that make it easier to keep attention where it should be?
'Dr Mark Young, transport ergonomics expert at Brunel University, said: "While we currently know a lot more about in-vehicle distractions such as mobile phones than external distractors, there is a growing body of concern about the lack of any coherent strategy for arranging roadside furniture.'
Couldn't agree more. Approach lanes to local traffic lights on busy 'A' road have signs for churches, sports centre etc. hung on every lamp post, all different shapes, sizes and heights. Some even some beyond the stop line. How anyone is supposed to sort it all out and drive safely is beyond me.
Couldn't agree more. Approach lanes to local traffic lights on busy 'A' road have signs for churches, sports centre etc. hung on every lamp post, all different shapes, sizes and heights. Some even some beyond the stop line. How anyone is supposed to sort it all out and drive safely is beyond me.
antispeed said:
checking speed takes no longer than checking mirrors...
Well put LexSport, at the end of the day jazzyjeff taking your eyes off the road is just dangerous.
roll on the day we just jack in ( ah-la johnny newmonic) to the car systems and see everything just in front of the car, would that make it easier to keep attention where it should be?
Thats not what i am saying, if you drive just looking in front of your bumper then you should not be on the road.
You should be looking ahead, but not taking your eyes off the road to check your speed every 10 seconds just in case a scamera snaps you for going 2mph over the speed limit.
Likewise you need to be observent every second of driving, as a second is a hell of a long time for something in front of you to change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tax us more. Thats the answer.......... isn't it ?
No doubt this will lead the government to make a case for black boxes in our cars. They'll be a cameran facing the driver, so every time you look away from the straight ahead, you will get a nice letter from plod asking you to contribute to the Police Christmas party. Collect three points and don't pass go. Collect twelve points and you might get an invite.
No doubt this will lead the government to make a case for black boxes in our cars. They'll be a cameran facing the driver, so every time you look away from the straight ahead, you will get a nice letter from plod asking you to contribute to the Police Christmas party. Collect three points and don't pass go. Collect twelve points and you might get an invite.
People don't look where they're going!!
Male drivers are easily distracted, like a chap I know admiring some totty in a short skirt. Then whilst about to carry on watching the road it was too late, he had bumped the car in front! Mind you I suspect a female somewhere has done this whilst applying make up!!
Male drivers are easily distracted, like a chap I know admiring some totty in a short skirt. Then whilst about to carry on watching the road it was too late, he had bumped the car in front! Mind you I suspect a female somewhere has done this whilst applying make up!!
haze said:
People don't look where they're going!!
Male drivers are easily distracted, like a chap I know admiring some totty in a short skirt. Then whilst about to carry on watching the road it was too late, he had bumped the car in front! Mind you I suspect a female somewhere has done this whilst applying make up!!
My first ever accident, ink on the licence barely new, was because of exactly that: staring at totty, the car in front drove off, so did I, he stopped, I didn't. Luckily, I was in a queue of near-stationary traffic so no harm done...
I was 17...
See you males are all alike 
Hi, If PRIVILEGE had taken time to read the HIGHWAY CODE,or a least their researchers examples of distraction whilst driving include changing a CD or tape, using your mobile , arguing with your wife, sorry friends, reading a map, etc etc ie fiddling with things within the car.. no mention of reading bill boards, looking at girls in short skirts, anything else may affect your concentration, as the good Doctor mentions later in the article!!! anyway nuf said...question,,,Why do speed cameras not have the road speed clearly marked on them, as a driver aid??? GTEPETE
I think most sensible drivers are quite capable of maintaining a fairly consistent speed in a given limit. On roads that I know have no cameras, when I occasionally look down at the speedo I am usually within a few mph of the limit, sometimes above, sometimes below. People who study control systems will be familiar with the theory.
Driving in this manner is perfectly safe, and with good forward observation there is little risk of accidents occuring.
However, when I drive along a road where cameras may be operating, I tend to look at the speedo more often. The results are still the same, pretty much bang on the speed limit, sometimes above, sometimes below. However, the amount of time observing the road ahead is reduced by the more frequent monitoring of the speedo. Added to this, I am now also looking at a point in space somewhere above the pavement for a grey box with a murky yellow square painted on one side, or for an innoculous looking van parked at the roadside. In this situation I am still confident that I am driving at a speed acceptible for the given limit, but human nature means self preservation (in this case my licence, insurance and wallet) becomes a higher priority. As a result I feel less safe in my driving as a whole, as I know I am being distracted from the main task at hand.
And for the truely danferous drivers, driving at higher speeds or paying less attention? The camera won't make any difference, they'll just brake hard at the last minute, then carry on as before.
Driving in this manner is perfectly safe, and with good forward observation there is little risk of accidents occuring.
However, when I drive along a road where cameras may be operating, I tend to look at the speedo more often. The results are still the same, pretty much bang on the speed limit, sometimes above, sometimes below. However, the amount of time observing the road ahead is reduced by the more frequent monitoring of the speedo. Added to this, I am now also looking at a point in space somewhere above the pavement for a grey box with a murky yellow square painted on one side, or for an innoculous looking van parked at the roadside. In this situation I am still confident that I am driving at a speed acceptible for the given limit, but human nature means self preservation (in this case my licence, insurance and wallet) becomes a higher priority. As a result I feel less safe in my driving as a whole, as I know I am being distracted from the main task at hand.
And for the truely danferous drivers, driving at higher speeds or paying less attention? The camera won't make any difference, they'll just brake hard at the last minute, then carry on as before.
bunglist said:
checking speed takes no longer than checking mirrors...
Well put LexSport, at the end of the day jazzyjeff taking your eyes off the road is just dangerous.
...so you're saying you don't look in your mirrors then!??
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