Don’t slow down while using mobile phone: QUT study

Drivers who slow down while using mobile phones could be at risk of increasing on-road conflicts, a new Queensland University of Technology study warns.

Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios, from QUT’s Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), says distracted drivers reducing their speed might sound good from a safety point of view, but it could also cause crashes.
That conclusion comes from his study Effects of road infrastructure and traffic complexity in speed adaptation behaviour of distracted drivers which have been published in the leading road safety journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.

“Drivers frustrated by following slow moving vehicles whose drivers have reduced speed to keep talking on their phones may perform aggressive overtaking manoeuvres, increasing the crash risk for other road users,” he says.

Oviedo-Trespalacios says using a mobile phone while driving has been shown to increase crash risk four-fold.

“Young drivers are particularly at risk as there is a greater prevalence of driving while using a mobile phone in this age group.

“While it’s illegal to use a handheld mobile phone while driving in Australia, research has shown drivers continue to adopt the dangerous practice.”

In a bid to highlight the dangers but also identify possible solutions, Oviedo-Trespalacios’ research has looked at the way drivers react and respond to mobile phone use behind the wheel.

“We found that on average distracted drivers travel at about 5km/h slower when following another vehicle and almost 3km/h slower in free-flowing traffic.

“The negative consequences this has on other road users include increased risk of nose-to-tail crashes as a result of sudden stopping, perception of discourteous or aggressive driver behaviour, as well congestion to the transport system,” he says.

The research also suggested ideas for safe ways to use mobile phones while driving.

“We need to consider that if we can’t stop drivers using their mobile phones, is there a way to make it safe?

“For example, changing the design of mobile phones so they are context-aware and only work when it is safe to do so.”