The RAC Foundation has called for a ‘drive-safe’ mode to be introduced for smartphones to overcome the problem of driver distraction.
Around 70 fatal accidents a year on Britain’s roads have ‘distraction in vehicle’ as a contributory factor and that ‘Driver using mobile phone’ is a factor in some 20 fatal accidents a year. This death toll has prompted the RAC Foundation to work with TRL to understand how car makers, phone manufacturers and telecoms companies can help reduce driver distraction.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “With two-thirds (66%) of the UK population now owning a smartphone the time could have arrived for a drive-safe mode for mobiles. Most smartphone owners are familiar with flight-safe mode on their devices which restricts communications that could potentially interfere with a plane’s systems. Yet many of Britain’s 38.5 million drivers risk being distracted by an almost limitless range of applications on their phones which are accessible whether they are at the wheel or not.”
Gooding cites a 2014 study observed that around 1.6% of drivers on roads in England and Scotland were using a hand-held mobile.
In the UK the use of hand-held mobile phones is specifically outlawed with drivers receiving 3 penalty points and a fine of £100 if caught disobeying the law. Earlier this year the Westminster government consulted on increasing the penalties further still.
While there are sanctions against motorists who use phones in the UK, the RAC Foundation points out there does not appear to be any internationally accepted guidelines and standards specifically related to the design of mobile phones and communications devices for use while driving.
There is a range of apps which drivers can voluntarily download onto their phones to help limit their functionality and hence reduce distraction, noted Gooding. Do-not-disturb functions are also available on handsets themselves, although are not specifically related to driving.
The RAC Foundation’s concerns over the role of smartphones in driver distraction led to it commissioning TRL to carry out surveys and interviews with a range of people who have an interest in this subject - including representatives from vehicle manufacturers, telecoms providers and phone manufacturers – to gauge what industry is doing to limit the use of potentially distracting technology in the car.
The surveys revealed that while a great deal of thought goes into the design of built-in equipment and dashboard layout, when it comes to products not specifically designed for in-car use. ‘Distraction in vehicle’ was not consistently considered to be a priority during the design phase.
TRL found that car manufacturers, telecoms and phone companies largely thought it was up to the driver to make sure their use of technology in the car complied with the law, and that without a legal obligation on them few companies would incorporate limitations on the use of their equipment as they would be at a commercial disadvantage.
The surveys also suggest that demands for technologies such as drive-safe mode could come from fleet and safety managers who are more directly aware of the legal and moral duty to protect their employees and the public.
Steve Gooding said: “In many ways smartphone technology and mobile communications are a Godsend for road users, allowing us to do everything from getting directions to dodging congestion to calling for help if we break down. Yet the more functionality our cars and electronic devices have, the greater the chance that drivers get distracted or overwhelmed with information, particularly when using smartphones as satnavs while all the other functions are still ‘live’.
“A key question is where responsibility lies. Many in the industry say the onus must be on the user rather than the manufacturer. There may come a day when autonomous cars allow us to spend all our time looking at our mobile, tablet and computer screens. Until then as drivers we need to make sure we have our eyes on the road.”
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