Roving eyes

October 2004

A Monash University Accident Research Centre expert warns that driver distraction could escalate into a major road safety issue and action is needed before it's too late. Allison Harding reports.

Driving a car is one of the most complex tasks many people will ever have to perform, and adding to the difficulties are the constant distractions -- from talking on mobile phones to tuning car radios and even using new Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) technology.

Attention please: Dr Michael Regan warns that increasing technology in the car cockpit is a significant safety issue. Photo: Greg Ford

Dr Michael Regan, senior research fellow at the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), says driver inattention is one of the most significant road safety issues today.

He says while it is already common to see drivers engaged in all sorts of activities while negotiating the road, the new ITS devices are an even greater cause for concern.

"Because driving a motor vehicle is such a complex task, it is, not surprisingly, an activity that is prone to error," Dr Regan says.

And costly error at that. Since the advent of the motor car, more than 171,000 people have died on Australia's roads. Worldwide, around 1.2 million people are killed and 39 million injured annually.

"When you consider these sorts of statistics, you realise that any activity that distracts or competes for the driver's attention has the potential to degrade driving performance and have serious consequences," Dr Regan says.

He believes that debate in Australia has focused on hand-held mobile phones at the expense of other significant distractions.

This year, Dr Regan and his team conducted the first worldwide review of accumulated research on driver distraction. They found that about a quarter of crashes in the US resulted from inattentive or distracted drivers -- the US is one of the few countries that have attempted to quantify the issue.

The review, funded by Holden, found that in-car communication devices, route guidance systems, portable email and internet facilities and entertainment systems were the major technology-based distractions.

"There are so many new technologies finding their way into the car cockpit, which means the role of the driver, like that of the aircraft pilot, is moving to being more of a systems monitor," Dr Regan says.

Intelligent Transport Systems include automatic warnings if the driver exceeds the posted speed limit, follows a vehicle too closely, is about to collide with vehicles in any direction or is about to drive off the road. Other systems warn drivers if they are too drowsy to continue driving, prevent the car from being started if alcohol is detected and offer vision enhancement through infrared technology.

Route navigation systems that issue turn-by-turn instructions by voice or visual instructions, as well as portable devices that can advise the nearest restaurant, cinema or hospital, are also emerging technologies.

"While these technologies will make it possible to greatly enhance the safety, enjoyment and amenity of driving, the benefits might be outweighed by their potential to distract, overload and confuse the driver," Dr Regan says.

"Also of concern are portable devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones, which can be used as platforms for an increasing variety of ITS, communication and entertainment services.

"We need to take into account all aspects of driver distraction -- including external distractions such as billboards and signs -- and conduct serious and specific research into the issue, or it has the potential to escalate into a major road safety problem."

Action

For further information on the work of MUARC, visit www.general.monash.edu.au/muarc/. Contact Dr Michael Regan on +61 3 9905 1838 or email michael.regan@general.monash.edu.au.