Drivers must stay focused

DRIVERS have been warned about the increased risk of distracted driving this summer, after new research revealed a worrying seasonal trend regarding the use of mobile devices on the move.

TrueMotion, a leading smartphone telematics platform, recently analysed the behaviour of more than 20,000 drivers from January 2017 to May 2018 and found that they spent less time looking at the road and more time looking at their phones during the months of June, July and August.

Specifically, the findings indicate summertime drivers are distracted for an average of about 15 minutes of every hour they spend driving – an increase of nearly 10 per cent when compared to the rest of the year.

Charlie Klauer, research scientist and leader of the Teen Risk and Injury Prevention Group, said: “When you look away from the road, for even a few seconds, you lose the time needed to react properly to your surroundings.

“Our research shows the problem is only getting worse, so we need to continue talking about this in hopes that eventually distracted driving becomes as unacceptable as not wearing a seat belt or drinking and driving.”

In recent years in Bahrain the authorities introduced a crackdown on menacing motorists, who speed, run red lights or drive while using their mobile phones, with a range of consequences including penalty points notched on their record, hefty fines and, in extreme cases, jail sentences.

The authorities were determined to put an end to the carnage and chaos that has been witnessed on the kingdom’s roads in recent years and despite their best efforts the continued use of motorists using mobile phones whilst driving along the kingdom’s highways remains a common occurrence.

The research covered more than 8.4 million trips using a free distracted driving mobile app, TrueMotion Family, from January 2017 through May 2018. The company collected smartphone sensor data and used machine learning to determine when a person was driving and if he or she was actively distracted by texting, making phone calls or using apps like Facebook versus passively distracted with apps for music and maps.

The increase during summer may be because people are more relaxed, or tired, from the heat making it especially important to focus on driving and avoid distractions that could lead to accidents.

“The risk of distracted driving is real and yet entirely preventable,” said its CEO Ted Gramer. “Our hope is that we can make a difference by continuously emphasising the dangers we pose to ourselves and others any time we aren’t 100 percent focused while driving.

“It’s important that we use this information to bring more attention to the problem.

“We should have the conversation with our friends and family, encouraging each other to stay focused while driving and speak up when others are engaging in risky behaviour behind the wheel.”