The recent statistics by Ministry of Interior suggest that distracted driving is one of the major reasons for road deaths in the UAE. Distracted driving causes 11% of road deaths in the UAE on an average, which is almost equal to the road deaths caused by tailgating and misjudgment by the driver. Another study conducted by the famous car brand Ford has revealed that divided attention while driving can cause fatal road accidents as the human mind is not functionally programmed to do multitasking while driving.
Driving requires Undivided Attention
Motorists who think that they can do multiple things while driving like listening to a phone call, replying to a text message, eat something or be involved in anything else must know that they put their own lives and the lives of other commuters at a serious risk by trying to multitask. The psychological research proves that the human brain is not made to do multitasking while driving because driving on a busy road demands complete attention and is a full-time job. Distracted driving reduces the driver’s response time in emergency situations which can be fatal on a busy road.
According to a recent research conducted by Ford, distracted driving is a major reason for road fatalities across the world. This research sheds light on the fact that human brain cannot concentrate completely on driving if the driver is involved in other activities. Taking your eyes off the road even for few seconds can be dangerous, especially during rush hours and when driving in low visibility conditions.
Also read: 3 Deadliest Traffic Violations of 2017 in Dubai Revealed
Important Findings of the New Research by Ford
Ford has revealed some significant findings in its new research, which was mainly focused on exploring the risks of distracted driving. The fundamental findings of the research reveal that the brain performs its functions slower if it is taxed with multiple actions.
Distracted Driving in Numbers According to the New Research
In order to make things clear about the potential fatal impact of distracted driving, listed below are some insightful findings of the recent study conducted by Ford.
- On an average, 14 seconds is the time lost in taking a selfie while driving.
- 390 is the number of meters a vehicle can be driven in 14 seconds on an average.
- 37% of driver’s ability to drive attentively reduces if the driver takes a call while driving.
- The human brain can fully focus on one task at a time.
Other Important Facts and Information about Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a major reason for most of the fatal accidents across the world. According to the figures by World Health Organization (WHO), 1.25 million people die every year in road accidents and 94% of these accidents are caused by driver errors.
Experts’ Opinion on Distracted Driving
Experts have divided distractions that can divert a driver’s brain while driving into four categories. These distractions could be auditory, visual, manual or cognitive. Matt Gerlach, who is one of the most experienced testing drivers at Ford, gave his viewpoint on distracted driving. He said that normal driving uses 85% of the mental load. This means a driver cannot perform any other activity while driving because it will increase the mental load and reduce the attention of the driver to a dangerous level. According to Gerlach, most of the fatal accidents occur when the driver’s brain is overloaded.
Thomas Edelman, who is the CEO of RoadSafetyUAE, said that distracted driving is one of the major reasons for fatal road accidents in the UAE and using a mobile phone is the biggest distraction amongst other distractions. He added that it was important for authorities to launch awareness campaigns to educate motorists on the dangers of distracted driving in order to improve the road safety situation in the UAE.
How can Distracted Driving be avoided?
Drivers need to make a conscious effort to avoid distracted driving. While taking regular breaks on a long journey to avoid drowsiness is crucial, distractions like the use of mobile phone or eating or drinking should be avoided completely for a safer commute.
Other than these careful driving practices, a gradual shift towards buying safer cars can be one way of minimizing the fatal consequences of distracted driving. New and upcoming cars have some of the most advanced safety features installed that can actually help a driver maintain attention on the road to avoid dangerous road accidents. From warning the driver on noticing a distracted driving behavior to taking the automatic control of a vehicle to reduce the possibility of a fatal collision, these safety features can make driving a lot safer for drivers in the UAE.
Listed below are the life-saving safety features that are now available in modern day cars:
- Forward Collision Control System
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keep Assist
- Automatic Emergency Braking System
- Night Vision
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Driver Attention Assist
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Intelligent Speed Assist
Road safety is a subject that demands the equal attention of all stakeholders, be it the drivers themselves or the traffic authorities. Authorities in the UAE have encouraged motorists to drive safely by educating them on the dangers of distracted driving through awareness campaigns and other initiatives. It is now a responsibility of motorists to comply with the road safety practices and support traffic authorities in achieving their objective of making the UAE one of the safest countries for commuting in the near future.
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