We all know (or should know) what best practices should be while driving: focusing on the road ahead of us, not daydreaming and not engaging in activities that take away our attention on our main task.
Despite this being very clear for everyone and especially more for those who work in the sector, research still shows people tend to get distracted while behind the wheel. According to a study we would like to share with you, commissioned by the insurance company Travelers, more than 90% of consumers surveyed in 2018 stated they worry about distraction caused by people using personal technology while driving. But despite this concern, according to the same study, more than one in five consumers admits to driving while using personal technology, such as a smartphone or tablet.
The infographic produced by Travelers on this claims that:
- Around the 40% of drivers are distracted on average for 15 minutes per hour during their trips;
- 85% of them understand using devices while driving is dangerous, but the 25% of them still engages in similar activities as they think they can do it safely;
- 23% of those who said they respond to personal texts, emails and calls while driving do so because they are afraid of missing out on something important.
It seems there is a clear clash between what drivers think it is safe and their perception and what is actually happening on the roads. But the worst is that these misperceptions are leading to collisions that can lead to injuries and losses. According to Travelers sources, around 40% of accidents happening in the state of Colorado are due to distracted driving.
So, how can we prevent distracted driving? The first step towards changing this type of behaviour should be being aware of it. Many drivers do feel that distracted driving is not their problem, as others do it and they feel they can do it without it being risky: but every second eyes are off the road can really have serious consequences.
Distracted driving technology and fatigue detection systems, including advanced driver assistance systems and fleet dash cams, have the power of protecting your team and finding out issues that can be corrected before it is too late. If you want to learn more about our new collision management solution, talk to us.
