By RAM Tracking on 29 Mar 2023

April is distracted driving awareness month. With the increasing use of mobile devices and other technologies that can take a driver's attention away from the road, it is now more dangerous on the roads than ever. It is not just using a mobile phone while driving that is dangerous; anything that diverts a driver's attention, even momentarily, can have profound consequences. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents – according to THINK, you are four times more likely to be in a crash if you use your phone.

What is distracted driving?

Distracted driving refers to any activity that diverts a driver's attention away from the primary task of driving. According to a study conducted by IAM RoadSmart, distracted drivers were a contributing factor in 16,333 collisions in 2021. Distractions can range from anything to entering an address on a GPS or having the radio too loud. Despite the known dangers of distracted driving, many drivers continue to engage in these activities while behind the wheel. This is particularly concerning given the increasing prevalence of technology in our daily lives.

Distracted driving can be categorised into four sections:

• Visual – Concerns about visual distractions whilst driving are not new, when windscreen wipers were introduced, there were concerns about them being hypnotic. Nowadays, we have more complex concerns, drivers might use a mobile phone whilst driving if they are lost or need to call a customer. Regardless of the cause, using a phone while driving will result in a fine and six penalty points on your licence, a fine of up to £1000, and a driving ban (or £2,500 if you’re a bus or lorry driver).
• Cognitive – When a driver’s mind is not focused on the task of driving, it can be extremely dangerous. This can happen when a driver is using a hands-free mobile device to speak to people, or they are thinking about non-driving related activities such as getting to work or a job on time. Hands-free driving devices are not yet illegal but if the police deem the driver distracted by these devices they may be prosecuted.
• Biochemical – This is a broad definition of a driver being distracted by something that is not driving. An example of this is a driver who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol - in such cases, the driver's judgment, reaction time, and motor skills can be significantly affected, leading to a higher risk of accidents.
• Auditory – The easiest to define of all, this form of distracted driving is often overlooked but, listening to loud music, receiving calls from clients, and being distracted by the sounds of fellow road users poses a real threat. Playing loud music makes you subconsciously drive faster and engaging in a phone conversation can divert a driver's cognitive resources away from driving. These distractions make drivers less aware of their surroundings, slower to react to hazards, and more likely to brake suddenly or cause danger to fellow road users.

How can you reduce distracted driving?

There are many solutions to help keep your drivers safe. Here at RAM Tracking, driver safety is our priority, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to adapt your fleet.

Dash cams are commonly used for a variety of purposes, including providing evidence in the event of a collision or incident on the road but they can provide a wide range of safety solutions for your drivers. By installing an internal dash cam, you can ensure that:

• By monitoring your driver’s behaviour, you can check if they are driving safely and being mindful of others on the road.
• Identify what is causing a distraction whilst they are driving and provide training to ensure they are being safe.
• Provide your drivers peace of mind that they are covered should an incident occur.

Adding a dash cam has been proven to improve driver safety by 33%

Vehicle tracking systems can aid in preventing further distractions as the system records harsh acceleration, harsh braking and swerving incidents often associated with distracted driver behaviour. By highlighting these incidents to the driver, you can find out why they occurred and train them to be better by providing instant data. Our vehicle tracking system allows you to allocate optimised routes to drivers before a journey or adjust a route to avoid traffic. With the ability to track driver location, you can contact customers from your office, freeing drivers from the worry of making contact while driving. You can also share a live feed to a customer as to the whereabouts of their delivery or service.

Conclusion

Distracted driving can have serious consequences. Unless we address the issue and find solutions, road accidents, and deaths will continue to rise. Installing a dash cam and vehicle tracking unit can help you maintain driver safety and introduce proper safety methods.

By working together, we can make our roads safer and streamline your fleet operations. Investing in dash cams and fleet tracking solutions is a big step towards improving driver safety. In addition to the benefits of reducing distracted driving, dash cams and vehicle tracking can also save you on average £300 per vehicle per month.