Skip to main content

Driver distraction is a road safety risk

Driver distraction is an increasing concern for the road safety sector. According to the FIA Region 2 (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), a distraction time of just two seconds is sufficient to cause a crash. The FIA’s data suggests that to 25% of road crashes are due to distraction, with 25-30% of total driving time spent on distracting activities. Commissioner Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport, recently warned against distraction caused by the use of mobile phone. She said, “Distraction
September 12, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Driver distraction is an increasing concern for the road safety sector. According to the FIA Region 2 (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile), a distraction time of just two seconds is sufficient to cause a crash. The FIA’s data suggests that to 25% of road crashes are due to distraction, with 25-30% of total driving time spent on distracting activities.

Commissioner Bulc, European Commissioner for Transport, recently warned against distraction caused by the use of mobile phone. She said, “Distraction from mobile devices has become one of the top crash factors. Reports show it has even overtaken speed and alcohol as the highest risk factors.”

She recognised the value of the 2seconds campaign in raising awareness of the risk of distraction among road users: “Technology can help, and the EU is making sure that everyone benefits from it: making driver drowsiness and distraction warning systems mandatory for all cars in its new vehicle safety legislation. But this can only be an assistance to drivers. It is crucial that all road users are aware of the high risks of even short spans of inattention. This is why I fully support the 2seconds campaign. To achieve zero road deaths by 2050 in the EU, we need to do everything we can – together.”

With the #2seconds campaign, 8055 FIA Region I and our national member Clubs are raising awareness on distraction, stressing that even very short lapses of attention can have dramatic and even fatal consequences.

If motorists are not trained on new in-vehicle safety technologies proper use, they can also become a source of distraction.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • The European Road Infrastructure Congress 2016: innovative thinking
    October 18, 2016
    ERIC 2016, the first European Road Infrastructure Congress, has called on the region’s governments to come together and work more imaginatively with the private sector to bring about a safer and more effective highway network. Speaking at the congress’ opening ceremony, FIA president Jean Todt said that if the EU is serious about improving its road safety record, it is essential to develop a high quality highway infrastructure as quickly as possible. Todt (who is also the United Nations special envoy
  • IRF World Congress: Safety through sustainability
    October 17, 2024
    Be sustainable, but above all be safe, was the theme of the first day of the three-day IRF World Congress in Istanbul, Turkiye. David Arminas reports.
  • England’s motorways not safe enough for 80mph limit, says RSF
    May 11, 2012
    England’s motorway network is not safe enough to have the speed limit raised to 80mph, according to a new report from the Road Safety Foundation (RSF). Titled ‘Unfit for 80’, the report says poorly-maintained and inadequate roadside protection and the rapidly rising risk of shunt crashes from the sheer volume of traffic using England’s motorways are key factors of safety concern. The RSF document has been published while the Government continues to consider a review of the motorway speed limit. Last autumn,
  • ARTBA calls for improved road safety
    April 17, 2019
    The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) is calling for a fundamental shift in how the US approaches road safety. ARTBA is emphasising the need to design and build a transportation network that better compensates for error so that drivers, passengers, workers and other road users do not pay for behavioural mistakes with their lives. The association submitted written testimony to a House Highway & Transit Subcommittee hearing, “Every Life Counts: Improving Safety of our Nation’s R