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| Transport Canada is studying in-car driver distractions. |
The Evolution of Distracted Driving
Robyn Robertson, M.C.A., President and CEO, Traffic Injury Research Foundation
Generally estimated that distraction is a factor in 20-30% of crashes.
TIRF data show:
- 13-16% of fatality crashes
- 23-27% of injury crashes
- 100-Car Naturalistic Study showed distraction a factorin 33% of crashes and 27% of near-crashes.
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/EvolutionDistractedDriving-SpeakerRobertson.pdf
Distracted Driving in Canada
Brian Jonah, Senior researcher, The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA)
The presentation covered "observational" surveys done by the CCMTA show a decline in drivers' cell phone use from 5.9 per cent in 2007 to 3.3 in 2010 for urban Canada. Jonah's report notes problems with the methodology and outlines the plan for the next survey.
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-RangeofDistractions-SpeakerJonah.pdf
The Effects of Different Types of Distractions: Findings from the EU
Dr. George Yannis, University of Athens
Dr. Yannis' current research focuses on driver distraction, safety of power two wheelers and pedestrians and safety measures assessment. www.nrso.ntua.gr/geyannis
What is distracted driving?
What is the difference between driver distraction and driver inattention?
How critical risk factor is distracted driving?
Which are the in-vehicle distraction factors?
Which are the external distraction factors?
What is the effect of distracted driving
- to driver attention?
- to traffic behaviour?
- to accident risk?
Can distracted driving be prevented?
What's on a driver's mind?
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-RangeOfDistractions-SpeakerYannis.pdf
In-Vehicle Distractions
Dr. Oliver Carsten, University of Leeds
Dr. Carsten has led the development of the advanced driving simulator at Leeds and is chair of the Road User Behaviour Working Party of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. He has been a member of several expert groups of the European Transport Safety Council.
Distractions
- Visual distraction: tasks that require driver to focus visual attention away from the roadway
- Manual distraction: tasks that require the driver to manipulate a system
- Cognitive distraction: tasks that divert the driver’s mental attention away from vehicle control, vehicle manoeuvring and interaction with other road users
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-Rangeofdistractions-SpeakerCarsten.pdf
Effects of Cell Phones on Driving Performance
Dr. David Strayer, University of Utah
Dr Strayer has been conducting research on driving and distraction for over a decade and many of his articles are available on-line at www.psych.utah.edu/lab/appliedcognition . He reported on the cognitive side of driver distraction including:
Encoding deficits
- Reduced attention to perceptual inputs
- Clear implications for traffic safety
Retrieval deficits
- Failure to retrieve prior episodes
- Less clear implications for traffic safety
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-FocusOnCellPhones-SpeakerStrayer.pdf
Amy Schick, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Schick joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in June 2007 as a Presidential Management Fellow. Amy currently works in the Office of Impaired Driving and Occupant Protection developing, testing and refining best-practice highway safety countermeasures. Her program areas include distracted driving and occupant restraints.
In 2010, an estimated 3,092 motor vehicle fatalities were distraction affected. The percentage of drivers holding cell phones to their ears while driving stands at 5%. This rate translates in 660,000 vehicles driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone at a typical daylight moment in 2010. She recommended http://www.distraction.gov/index.html
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-FocusOnCellPhones-SpeakerSchick.pdf
Emerging technologies, emerging issues
Peter Burns, Transport Canada
Burns is Chief of the Ergonomics and Crash Avoidance Division at Transport Canada. He leads research supporting the development of motor vehicle safety standards, guidelines and related crash countermeasures. This work primarily focuses on assessing the safety impact of vehicle-based intelligent transport systems. He concluded his presentation with:
-There are effective options for limiting driver distraction that can be applied to the design and management of in-vehicle information systems.
-Redundant countermeasures in the driver-vehicle road system can help to limit the consequences of distraction.
-Emerging technologies are offering new challenges and solutions for limiting distraction.
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/EmergingTechnology-SpeakerBurns.pdf
Alberta’s Progressive Approach to Legislation
Shaun Hammond, Assistant Deputy Minister, Transportation Safety Services Division at Alberta Transportation
Hammond's Division is responsible for the implementation of Alberta’s Traffic Safety Plan, leading a coordinated effort of 12 government departments with a goal of reducing collisions, injuries, and fatalities on Alberta roads. He summarized the Transportation Safety Services Division's work:
- 2004 – McDermid Report 387 fatalities
- 2006 – Alberta Traffic Safety Plan 453 fatalities
- 2007 – 3 year Traffic Safety Action Plan 458 fatalities
– With annual operational plans through 2010
- 2010 – Plan renewal “TSP – 2011-2015” 344 fatalities
In any given year, the number of people killed on Alberta roads is roughly equivalent to the population of the average Alberta Elementary School.
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-Legislation&Enforcement-SpeakerHammond.pdf
Quebec’s Experiences and Evaluation Efforts
Pierre-Olivier Sénéchal, Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
Sénéchal is a road safety adviser at the SAAQ. His files include speeding, reckless driving and courtesy at the wheel, street racing and car surfing, demerit points, as well as access to driving a heavy vehicle.
Section 439.1 of the Highway Safety Code provides:
No person may, while driving a road vehicle, use a hand-held device that includes a telephone function.For the purposes of this section, a driver who is holding a hand-held device that includes a telephone function is presumed to be using the device. This prohibition does not apply to drivers of emergency vehicles in the performance of their duties.
Effective April 1, 2008
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-Legislation&Enforcement-SpeakerSenechal.pdf
Experiences with Enforcement
Staff Sgt. Chris Whaley, Ontario Provincial Police
Whaley is the Provincial Manager of Specialized Patrol in the Highway Safety Division. His presentation answers why distracted driving is now one of the "big four" enforcement priorities of the OPP.
- 16.5% impaired
- 21.4% speed
- 24.6% seat belt
- NHTSA reports the various forms of distraction contribute to 8 out 10 collisions
- Study results vary from 20% to 50%
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-Legislation&Enforcement-SpeakerWhaley.pdf
European Progress
Antonio Avenoso, ETSC
Avenoso is currently the Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council. Within ETSC Antonio has managed several international research networks and road safety programmes. He noted the EU Policy orientations on road safety, July 2010 has 7 strategic objectives:
1. Improve education and training of road users
2. Increase compliance with road traffic rules
3. Safer road infrastructure
4. Safer vehicles
5. Promote the use of modern technology to improve road safety
6. Improve emergency and post-care services
7. Improve safety of vulnerable road users
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-Legislation&Enforcement-SpeakerAvenoso.pdf
Experiences of Canadian Industry with Distracted Driving Policies
Paul Greco, Spectra Energy
Greco leads the development of corporate EH&S strategies, policies and programs to achieve Spectra Energy’s vision of a zero incident culture. A key aspect of the department’s work involves facilitating the implementation of systems and tools to enable Spectra’s subsidiaries to be compliant with Management System requirements.
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory.
Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
Sun Tzŭ c. 490 BC, Chinese strategist
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-IndustryExperiences_SpeakerPaulGreco.pdf
Experiences of International Industry with Distracted Driving Policies
Jack Hanley, Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
Hanley is Executive Director of the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety. He is responsible an annual Strength in Numbers fleet safety benchmark survey, the annual Drive Safely Work Week campaign and marketing the Novice Driver’s Road Map. In addition, Jack represents NETS on the UN Road Safety Collaboration, the principal steering committee for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 initiative.
Road Safety Best Practices (From 2009 and 2010 data years)
- More likely to publish a scorecard monthly
- More likely to terminate a driver for violating the company's mobile phone policy
- More likely to review mobile-phone records after a collision
- More likely to have a special team or board review collisions
- More likely to use a classroom training format
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-IndustryExperiences-SpeakerJackHanley_.pdf
Effectiveness Messaging Around Distracted Driving
Dee Allsop, CEO, Heart+Mind Strategies
Over his 25-year career, Allsop has had experience providing market positioning and communications strategies for some of the world's largest companies and organizations, including the largest automobile manufacturer, largest aerospace manufacturer, largest hotel and lodging chain, and the largest chemical company, among others.
CHANGE
Positive change emanates from new self evident ideas that protect, promote and preserve shared core values.
What are the core values that relate to Distracted Driving?
What the self-evident ideas that protect, promote and preserve them?
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-PublicInterest-SpeakerAllsop.pdf
Grassroots Initiatives
Karen Bowman, Drop It and Drive
Founder, Drop It And Drive
In October 2010 Bowman founded Drop It And Drive with the idea to take a proactive approach to ending distracted driving by increasing education and awareness. The D.I.A.D. education campaign became a very personal cause after Karen’s 8-year-old daughter was hit by a distracted driver less than three months later.
Program essentials
- Flexible
- Poster Contest – Teens – Youth – Adults
- Nationally Relevant
- Dynamic
- Multiple Speakers – Different Backgrounds
- Stories vs. Stats – Videos – Slides
- Interactive
- Reality-based
- No holds-barred
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-PublicInterest-SpeakerBowman.pdf
A Youth Perspective
Matt Evans, Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving
Evansis currently the Executive Director for OSAID, a youth program consisting of over 300 provincial OSAID chapters and 5000 teenage volunteers. His message to you people: Control. You have the power.
http://www.distracteddriving.ca/presentations/Panel-PublicInterest-SpeakerEvans.pdf
All presentations are online.