Driving is already a complex activity that requires constant attention. The more additional activities we try to perform while driving, the more our attention is divided, increasing the risk of a road traffic crash.
SOURCES OF DISTRACTION
– Mobile phone
– GPS/destination search
– Headphones / music
– External distractions
– Eating, drinking coffee, smoking/vaping
Every second we take our attention away from the road, our vehicle travels “blind” meters. When we turn back to the road, we need at least 2 seconds to fully regain situational awareness.
| Easy calculation of meters per second (m/s) |
| Speed tens digit × 3 = meters/second Example: 50 km/h → 5 × 3 = ~15 meters/second 80 km/h → ~24 m | 100 km/h → ~30 m |
The average driver’s reaction time is 1–2 seconds – and often that is not enough.
A single extra second with our attention diverted can make the difference between avoiding a road traffic crash and being involved in one.
