Drivers distracted 18% of the time

Date: 18/12/2012

Motorists spend 18 per cent of their time behind the wheel not concentrating on the road, according to a study into driver behaviour.

The research, which was commissioned by Direct Line, found that drivers often become distracted by clouds, scenery and adverts.

On average it found that motorists take their eyes off the road every nine seconds as they look at non-driving related things, reports News Insurances.

The study used eye-tracking technology in order to see from the drivers' eye movements where they were looking and how focused they managed to stay.

Those drivers that use sat nav were found to be even more distracted, with 22 per cent of the time spent not concentrating on the road.

Sat nav users spend 12 per cent of driving time studying the screen instead of the road, which when added to other distractions adds up to more time not focusing on other vehicles and traffic issues.

This time looking at the technology is nearly four-times as long as is spent checking mirrors, which the average driver does for 3.2 per cent of the time.

Another two per cent of a journey is spent observing oncoming traffic, six times less time than is spent looking at the sat nav.

It was found that the average driver spends seven per cent of their time looking at clouds and 0.8 per cent observing adverts, while 0.6 per cent of journeys are spent deciphering road signs.

Simon Henrick, Spokesperson for Direct Line car insurance, said: "For the first time we know exactly where people focus their eyes when driving and the results are frightening.

"Even when drivers appear to be watching the road, by tracking movements in the cornea, we now know they are often watching clouds or shop window displays.

"It is important that every time a driver gets behind the wheel that they concentrate for the whole journey, otherwise they risk injuring themselves and others."

Three per cent of the time was also found to be spent looking at pedestrians that were not near a crossing or about to step into the road.

Both men and women were distracted by attractive pedestrians, but only male drivers turned their heads to look at them.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

Transport Research News and Vehicle Safety News