New research has been published looking at whether drivers self-regulate their phone use while behind the wheel.
Researchers from SWOV, the national scientific institute for road safety research, co-authored a paper to investigate if drivers control their mobile phone use while driving in relation to different driving contexts.
The research monitored the driving behaviour of motorists in the Netherlands and specifically focused on visual manual (VM) tasks – associated with the largest increase in risk – such as texting.
Results found that drivers spent nine percent of all driving time taking part in mobile phone related tasks including calling and texting. Drivers used their phones much less when there was a passenger in the car.
The study also found more visual manual tasks were initiated when the car was at a standstill and on rural roads less time was spent on VM tasks compared to on highways.
Researchers concluded overall driving context did seem to influence the initiation and involvement in VM tasks – an indication that drivers do self-regulate this behaviour.
“The increasing level of vehicle automation is likely to further increase phone use behind the wheel, as the automation takes over part of the driving task drivers are likely to experience boredom and feel more confident to get involved in other activities such as phone use,” the report stated.
“This may further increase the distraction related accidents on our roads. However, the extent to which this further increases depends largely on the drivers’ level of self-regulation of risk, the timing of engagement in phone activities in relation to the driving context.”
The study, Self-regulation of drivers’ mobile phone use: The influence of driving context, was published in Transportation Research.
