Technology drives us to distraction

A study on Irish drivers’ habits revealed findings, writes Brian Farrell of the RSA

LET’S face it, driving is a complex task. You’ve to manage your lane position, speed, and the vehicle controls while simultaneously dealing with traffic. Throw in challenging weather conditions, not to mention the often unpredictable behaviour of other road users, plus the pressure of getting to your destination on time …the list goes on.

So you would think driving should command all of your senses and attention.

Believe it or not, research previously published by the RSA on driver distraction suggests that some drivers don’t find the task stimulating enough. They feel they need their phone bleeping beside them, music blaring, passenger chit-chat or even a meal to entertain them while behind the wheel, and they feel bored, bereft and unstimulated without them.

The study asked 30 Irish drivers of all ages and experience levels to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences on distractions when behind the wheel over an intensive three-week period.

We also asked them to take part in an experiment — to abstain from their distraction ‘of choice’ for a week. This included the tendency to keep one eye, hand (or both) on the mobile phone while at traffic lights, or munch on the breakfast roll at the wheel during the morning commute to work. It turned out to be quite an emotional rollercoaster for some of our participants.

Some reported physical symptoms of anxiety during this ‘deprivation’ phase of the research. They sat behind the wheel, with their phone switched OFF beside them, in a state of absolute terror, and only allowing themselves the sweet release of turning it back on when they arrived at their destination. Even more surprising was the anti-climax they experienced, on arrival, when, believe it or not, there was not one single text message, email, voicemail, or Facebook alert demanding their attention. There was no great emergency, no work or family catastrophe that demanded their attention while en-route home. Nobody died. Literally. So why all the stress? Well, the research reveals that many of us are quite simply addicted to our mobile phones. And we need help.

We offer up lots of excuses to justify using our mobile phone when behind the wheel.

“I am a good driver, and I can multi-task” … “I know it is not safe, but I am a particularly skilled driver. I can handle it!” are just a few.

Parents even justify their behaviour saying they need to keep the family schedule moving and check in with child minders and kids’ schedules. These things can wait.

What this research has shown is that these excuses, while valid and understandable lifestyle pressures, are only that, excuses. Just three seconds with a driver’s eyes off the road ahead is enough to cause a collision, and we all know what the possible consequences are.

Driver distraction is thought to be a contributory factor in 20-30pc of collisions. It is a real phenomenon causing death and injury on roads around the world every day. And mobile phone use in the car is one of the biggest causes of driver distraction.

But back to our brave guinea pigs. The good news is that by day seven of forced deprivation, many drivers reported greater awareness of their own behaviour, of other drivers’ behaviour, and felt more competent to react to hazards. They became safer drivers and had learned an important lesson, that’s just how powerful distractions are to a driver when behind the wheel.

What might help drivers keep the phone at bay is a joint venture between the RSA and Toyota. It’s a mobile phone app, launched last year, that rewards drivers who don’t use or touch their phone while driving. By activating the app before a journey it will reward you by giving points for every kilometre travelled for keeping the phone ‘face down’.

Drivers can use these points to earn complimentary hot drinks at Circle K/ Topaz outlets nationwide. And that’s the beauty of this app, and what separates it from other mobile phone apps. You get rewarded for your good behaviour. If a driver turns over the phone while driving, all the points accumulated will be lost.

It really has the potential to save lives, and this isn’t just guesswork. A member of our own Research Department, Dr Aoife Kervick, Policy & Research Analyst, completed her PhD on the potential of targeted smartphone apps to improve driving. Her study was the first to systematically and scientifically evaluate emerging ‘Smartphone Driver Support System’ road safety technology.

The study entitled ‘An Evaluation of Smartphone Driver Support Systems for Young Drivers — Acceptance, Efficacy, and Driver Distraction’, concluded that smartphone support systems or apps can help to improve driving performance, particularly when offered in conjunction with a form of financial incentive or reward.

So the Toyota ‘Face It Down’ app has the potential to change driver behaviour by rewarding them for not using their phone while driving. Download it from the Google Play Store or Apple Store for free, you don’t have to drive a Toyota, and get rewarded for “facing your phone down” while driving.