The World Health Organisation (WHO) has joined the ongoing political debate on driver distraction. A new report from the United Nations authority indicates that if you use a mobile phone while driving you are four times more likely to be involved in a crash than a driver who is not using a phone.
The WHO notes that this risk appears to be similar for both hand-held and hands-free phones because it is the cognitive distraction that is an issue, not just the physical distraction of holding a phone. The research includes analysis of the impact of new telecommunications technologies such as telematics and whilst voice-activated dialling is less physically distracting than manual dialling, it is still cognitively distracting.
Voice activated dialling “may falsely lead drivers to believe that using hands-free devices instead of hand-held ones can lower the risk of crash,” says the WHO. “Most vehicle manufacturers are working hard to integrate mobile phones into their vehicles – features that have become so ubiquitous that eliminating them from telematics systems would probably put any automobile maker at a serious competitive disadvantage.” The WHO is concerned that the inclusion of hands-free calls in telematics systems could increase the number of road crashes.
“Vehicle manufacturers need to take driver distraction issues associated with Connected Car systems and services seriously,” says Stephen Longden, ITS and Telematics specialist at SBD. “Legislation limiting driver distraction is being talked about in the USA and Europe and this could have a significant impact on the telematics industry.”
“The new trend of adding smartphone apps to the in-car experience is another area with great potential for driver overload and distraction,” adds Longden. “Carmakers need to assess the impact of systems on the driving task,” he adds. A detailed analysis of this dynamic technology is available through SBD’s Complete guide to integrating smartphone apps in the car.
Reduction in the number and severity of collisions is the main reason that the deployment of ADAS is being encouraged by governments and insurers. The addition of ADAS in new car star rating assessments is expected to lead to an increase in consumer demand, according to SBD’s new report Kickstarting the market of mass market of ADAS.
To learn more about Complete guide to integrating smartphone apps in the car or Kickstarting the market of mass market of ADAS contact Kavitha Kuppuswamy at kkuppuswamy@sbd.co.uk