Impassioned plea to distracted drivers

Nearly half of all distracted drivers who have been involved in a collision admit to being tired, stressed, angry or sad, according to the ARRB Group.

In a survey of over 1000 respondents, findings reveal that 45 per cent of distracted drivers were somewhat less than impassive at the time of the crash. It's a significant number among the two out of five Aussies who took part in the survey and admitted to crashing a car while distracted.

The ARRB Group (the Australian Road Research Board in a previous life) also found from the survey that the other drivers who were on an even keel, emotionally, had been distracted by other factors. As many as 49 per cent of the respondents surveyed admitted that they had experienced moments of driving on 'autopilot' – so pre-occupied by other matters that they couldn't even remember part of the journey.

Even more alarmingly, five per cent had driven without any clear recollection of the journey at all after arriving at the destination. As many as 12 per cent of 18-24-year-old drivers said they couldn't remember a journey undertaken – either in part or as a whole – every time they drive. This concerns the ARRB Group, which suggests that result could be a sign of undiagnosed attention deficit disorder.

"Our academic research shows Australians are largely aware of the impact driver headspace has on our ability to drive safely, with close to 60 per cent acknowledging this is the case," says ARRB Chief Scientist for Human Factors, Professor Mike Regan.

"In fact, a recent study in the US has shown that driving in an emotional state increases crash risk by 9.8 times.

"Our lack of attention on the roads is compounded by our persistence in multi-tasking whilst driving, cognitively and visually impairing drivers.

"We all lead busy lives with both personal and work stresses that crave our attention. Getting behind the wheel if you're in a distracted state, and especially if in an emotional state, can be very dangerous – the problem is that we can't enforce alertness and concentration in the same way we can police seatbelts, drink driving and speeding."

The majority of respondents – 60 per cent – were guilty of multi tasking, according to the survey, with 26 per cent driving slower to compensate and 22 per cent adjusting the braking distance to leave more room in case the car in front stops suddenly.

"It's not uncommon to pass a slow moving vehicle on the highway only to notice they are using their phone, in deep conversation with passengers or eating on the go," says Professor Regan.

"We implore all drivers to focus their attention on driving to ensure the safety of not just themselves, but other road users. Distracted drivers are a danger to themselves, and to others."

"What we found most astounding is that six per cent of survey respondents claim they don't feel the need to adjust their driving behaviour when multi-tasking at all, which is a figure that we need to work really hard to change.

"The simple message to drivers is: keep your eyes on the road, always give yourself a greater margin for error when you are distracted while driving, even when talking on the phone; and if you're in a highly emotional state, avoid driving altogether or ask someone else to drive."

Some of the causes of driver distraction, according to the ARRB survey, include fatigue/sleep deprivation, workplace stress and conflict arising out of professional interaction with the public, conflict with family/friends and traumatic events.

The most distracted drivers in the country are Victorians, the survey indicates, with 23 per cent making the admission – something like five per cent above the national average. Could they be dreaming of the next Queensland holiday perhaps... or ensuring they're not 3km over the limit?

Picture courtesy of ARRB and Volvo