fatal-distraction-01The drive.com.au site reports that  the number of crashes on NSW roads in which driver distraction was a factor has doubled in less than a decade.

The article appeared after 7 people were killed over 12 hours on NSW roads. Police believe that 6 of those crashes were caused by human error, including one where the driver was reportedly on the phone.

Mike Regan, from the University of NSW Transport and Road Safety group, said attention was increasingly being shifted from the road:

There are more technologies in cars which drivers are interacting with – that’s leading to distractions

According to the Centre for Road Safety, in 2011, drivers distracted by something inside their cars were a contributing factor in 1,585 crashes, compared with 748 in 2004. Over 900 of those accidents in 2011 resulted in injury.

Talking about the increasing integration of technology in cars, Professor Regan said:

We have new ways of a mobile phone connecting with cars that may cause more distractions than a hand-held phone itself

Lauchlan McIntosh, from the Australasian College of Road of Road Safety, said it was difficult to legislate against driver distraction and there should be more investment in solutions that disable devices when cars are moving.

A report by a State Parliament committee on road safety this year recommended better testing of electronic devices for driver distraction effects, and more enforcement of rules relating to in-car technologies.

 

At Blank-it, we know that driver distraction should be a primary area of concern for all drivers and employers, one that has to be addressed through policy, education and the use of technology-based solutions.

Blank-it has been designed specifically to address the problem of driver distraction caused by in-vehicle computers and laptops. It is easily installed, doesn’t rely on 3rd party input such as GPS, is fully customisable for different working environments and will help businesses conform to distracted driving legislation and OH&S requirements.