Distracted drivers more likely to kill those around them than themselves
Posted September 14, 2018 7:25 am.
Last Updated September 14, 2018 7:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The number of fatal crashes on Canadian roads has been decreasing but of those that do happen, a higher percentage are being caused by distracted drivers.
On the heels of a survey suggesting how often drivers still seem to be picking up their phones, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has analyzed traffic accidents over a 16-year period and uncovered some noticeable trends.
“From 2000 to 2015, the percentage of all fatalities in which distraction was a contributing factor increased. In 2015, distraction was a factor in one-in-four fatalities,” says research associate Heather Woods-Fry. In the year 2000, that figure was only 16 per cent.
TIRF has found this is largely due to a decrease in non-distraction-related fatalities which has not been reflected in the number of distraction-related fatalities.
And it seems distracted drivers are more often than not living with the consequences of their actions. The research shows they are less likely to die in a crash they cause than the passengers, pedestrians or other drivers around them.
RELATED: Delta Police use social media in effort to drive down crash numbers
It should be noted that although distracted driving is often associated with phoning or texting, the study also looked at other distractions behind the wheel. They include interactions with entertainment or communication devices; speaking with passengers in the vehicle; or eating, smoking or personal grooming while driving.
Woods-Fry says people aged 35 to 44 are the most likely to be involved in deadly crashes involving these behaviours.
“A possible explanation for this is that since drivers in this age group drive more often than younger or older drivers, their opportunities for distraction-related collisions may be higher by virtue of them being on the road more frequently.”
She suggests that has implications for enforcement and education.
“The enforcement activities and education initiatives should be tailored to the target audience based on these patterns and these trends that we see in the data. We can’t necessarily take the same approach as other road safety issues,” she explains.
“It will be important for the jurisdictions that are focused on this issue to coordinate efforts. The more we can tackle it in a uniform manner, the more effective we can be.”
