Good Drivers Just Driving!Driving and Mobile Phone

BUILDING EFFICIENCY MIDDLE EAST AUGUST 2010

Facts

Mobile phone driving has become a serious public health threat.

The National Safety Council estimates 25 percent of all crashes in 2008

involved talking on mobile phones.

1.4 million crashes

645,000 injuries that year

11% of drivers at any point during the day are on cell phones

81% of drivers admit to talking on cell phone while driving

18% of drivers admit to texting while driving

Driver distractions have joined alcohol and speeding as leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes.

Facts

Abu Dhabi campaign targets drivers using mobile phonesPolice to crack down on the practice of using mobile phones while driving in the UAE

RTA cautions motorists against using mobile phone while driving

An Abu Dhabi police campaign will teach road users that the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving diminishes a driver's response by 50 per cent.

Use of mobile phones while driving a major cause of accidentsUsing mobile phones while driving is a major cause of accidents, says official

How Cell Phones Distract

Driving involves complex set of tasks:

Visual

Manual

Cognitive

Auditory

A driver’s job is to watch for hazards, but this cannot be done when brain is overloaded

Challenge for driver

The Solution

Hands-free seen as solution and mistakenly believed to be safer than handheld

People recognize the risk of talking on handheld and texting more than the risk of hands-free

Hands-free devices offer

no safety benefit

when driving.

The Problem

Cognitive Distraction

Cognitive distraction still exists with hands-free

Talking occurs on both handheld and hands-free cell phones

Mind focuses on conversation

Listen and respond to a bodiless/ghostly voice

Hands-free devices do not

eliminate cognitive

distraction.

Multitasking: A Brain Drain

Multitasking for the brain is a myth

Human brains do not perform two tasks at same time

Brain handles tasks sequentially

Brain switches between one task and another

The four lobes of the brain.

Source: National Institutes of Health

Multitasking: A Brain Drain

Encoding Stage

Brain filters information due to overload

Drivers not aware of information filtered out

Information does not get into memory

Drivers miss critical information on potential hazards

Inattention blindness and encoding. Source: National Safety Council

Inattention Blindness

Distracted drivers experience what researchers call inattention blindness, similar to that of tunnel vision.

“looking” but not “seeing” fail to see up to 50 percent of the information in their driving environment

Hands-free drivers less likely to see:

High and low relevant objects

Visual cues

Exits, red lights and stop signs

Navigational signage

Content of objects

Inattention Blindness

Where drivers not usingcell phone looked.

Where drivers using cell phone (with hands-free) looked.

Source: Transport Canada

A narrowed scope

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Using a cell phone can distract drivers visually, physically, and cognitively.

Distraction caused by talking on a cell phone, regardless of handheld or hands-free application, impairs driver’s ability to maintain appropriate speed, throttle control and lateral position of the vehicle. It also can impair drivers’ visual search patterns, reaction time and decision making progress.

Mobile phone conversation (handheld or hands-free)

brings 4 times crash Risk.

Messaging brings 8 times crash risk.

Studies indicate the distraction comes from the conversation and not holding the phone.

Hand-held mobile phone v/s Hands-free mobile phones

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Johnson Controls Guidelines regarding use of mobile phones and electronic devices

Johnson Controls is committed to the safety of its employees, other drivers, pedestrians and passengers and therefore discourages the use of mobile phones to conduct Johnson Controls business while driving. In specific, the employee shall not dial any number while the vehicle is on road. If employee receives a call and it is necessary to answer, she/he must follow these guidelines:

Obey local laws concerning cell phone use while driving.

Pull over whenever possible;

Hang up if conditions become hazardous (e.g. traffic congestion, rain and slippery condition and loss of visibility); and

Use caution and good judgment in using cell phones while driving.

Use of mobile phones is prohibited to read and prepare SMS while driving. Use of other electronic devices such as a laptop or video games is prohibited while driving.

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Good Drivers Just Drive!

Good Drivers Just Drive!

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