Drivers 'not always watching road'

MOTORISTS typically have their eyes off the road for a tenth of the time they are driving, a study has shown.

For 10% of their journey they are eating, reaching for the phone, texting or engaged in other activities that cause concentration to wander away from what is happening beyond the windscreen.

Predictably, teenagers who had recently passed their test were most likely to crash or experience a near-miss as a result of being distracted, according to US researchers.

But even for experienced adult motorists, the risk of crashing or narrowly avoiding a collision more than doubled if they tried to "dial-and-drive".

Co-author Dr Bruce Simons-Morton, from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland, said: "Anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road can be dangerous. But our study shows these distracting practices are especially risky for novice drivers, who haven't developed sound safety judgment behind the wheel."

To carry out the study, the researchers analysed video footage from cameras installed in the cars of around 150 drivers.

About one quarter were novices who had obtained their driving licences no more than three weeks earlier. The remainder had, on average, 20 years of motoring experience and ranged in age from 18 to 72.

Participants' driving was filmed over a period of 12 to 18 months. Sensors fitted to the cars recorded acceleration, sudden braking, swerving, drifting out of a lane, and other driving data.

When a crash or near miss occurred, the scientists noted whether the driver was engaged in distracting activity.

Instances included drivers talking, dialling, reaching for a mobile phone or other object in the car, altering temperature or radio controls, eating, drinking, looking at something outside other than the road, or adjusting a mirror, seat belt or window.

Generally, drivers had their eyes off the road for about 10% of their time behind the wheel, said the researchers whose findings are reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Distractions substantially increased motoring risks for new inexperienced drivers, the study found.

For novice teenage motorists, the risk of a crash or near miss was raised eight times while dialing, seven to eight times when reaching for a phone or other object, almost four times when texting, and three times while eating.

Talking on the phone, in itself, did not increase the risk for either adult or teenage drivers. However, reaching for the phone and answering or dialing made motoring much more dangerous.

Dr Simons-Morton added: "Our data support the current trend in implementing restrictions on texting and cell phone use in vehicles.

"As new forms of technology increasingly are available in cars, it's important that drivers don't feel compelled to answer every incoming call or text. For young drivers' safety, parents can model this habit when they are at the wheel, and also let their children know that they should wait until the vehicle is stopped before taking a call - even when it's from mom or dad."

Simon Williams from the RAC said: "There are arguably more distractions for drivers than ever before, with the proliferation of in-car technology in various forms but research from the RAC Report on Motoring found that 89% of drivers say talking to passengers is still the greatest distraction they face behind the wheel.

"It also revealed that 21% of motorists admit to using a hand-held phone when at the wheel which amounts to more than seven million drivers on Britain's roads and that other people using hand-held mobile phones is the biggest stress factor (77%) for drivers, ahead of tailgating (74%) and road rage (64%).

"Motorists need to be aware of the potential for these distractions to have a devastating effect if they are not concentrating properly."

By John von Radowitz, Press Association