Distracted driving is more than just a phone

Frédéric Mercier

Thursday, December 21, 2017 12:01

UPDATE
Thursday, December 21, 2017 12:01

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We often talk about speed and drinking and driving, but it fails too often to mention the distraction when the time comes to address the issue of road safety.

Of course, we spoke in length and breadth of cell phone use in car in recent years, and with good reason. Except that the distraction does certainly not it.

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“Even if the distracted driving remains a phenomenon difficult to quantify, it is possible to say that it is the cause of many accidents,” admits from the outset, the Société d’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) in a report on the matter, filed in December 2016.

Analyzing data collected between 2007 and 2015, the SAAQ has come to the conclusion that the handling of the cigarette remains responsible for a large number of accidents involving distracted driving in Québec. In 2015, it accounted for 13% of distracted driving in the province. By combining the calls and the texting, the phone is still the champion of distraction with a proportion of 17% (7% for calls and 10% for sms).

The good news is that it is a step backwards compared to 2013, where the phone had it for no less than 24% of driving distractions. The text, however, won a point between 2013 and 2015, from about 9% to 10%.

In addition to the phone and smoking, eating and drinking remain two habits, causing several distractions dangerous driving. And then, there are the “other” category, which increased from 33% of the distractions in 2012 to 57% in 2015.

Comparison of the distribution of sources of distraction

SAAQ

“Note that the profile of the sources of distraction other than the four main varies a lot from one version of the survey to the other. Since 2012, a quarantine of the sources of distraction are defined and coded, for a better coverage of the distractions from other sources”, note-t-on in the study. “Among the other sources of distraction include: GPS, pets, other electronic devices, and the radio,” says one.

But this, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Among the forty behaviors are identified, there is for all situations, ranging from makeup to commands from the cockpit through the use of the safety belt, the hair and cleaning his glasses.

Moments that are more conducive

According to the SAAQ, the months for which there are the most accidents with personal injury caused by distracted driving are July and August.

It was towards the end of the week, Thursday and Friday, that the number of accidents caused by distraction is at its peak. Then, in a day, The hours of 12 noon to 14h59 and from 15h to 17h59 would be those where the distraction causes more accidents with personal injury.

An issue taken lightly?

In a survey conducted for the account of the SAAQ in 2015, 98% of quebec adults have stated that distracted driving is a very serious problem or somewhat serious, and 89% of them said that drivers in Quebec are very often or somewhat often distracted.

Despite these statistics, only 9% of survey respondents have admitted to themselves be distracted at the wheel. Quite a contrast…