Chatting, peeking into the mirror, men more distracted when driving, finds Kerala study

Misogynists will tell you that women are chatty and tend to take a peek into the mirror often.

But inside cars, men, at least in Kerala, not only chat more but also take frequent sneak peeks into the mirror for ‘non-driving’ purposes, says a study on distractions faced by car drivers.

Younger drivers — in the 18-30 age group — indulge the most in distracting activities compared with those above 50. Drivers above 50 use their mobiles less frequently and interact much less with co-passengers, shows the study, titled ‘In-vehicle distraction among four-wheeler drivers in Kerala’, conducted by Srinath R and others, and presented in the International Conference on Humanising Work and Work Environment in December 2015.

Contrary to popular perception, mobile phone use is not the top distraction, though it still distracts 74 per cent of drivers. Switching the air-conditioner on and off, glancing at the meter console, talking to other passengers and listening to music are bigger distractions than mobile phones, says the survey that involved 1,200 respondents in Kerala.

The other top distractions at the wheels are the use of navigation aids, peeping into mirrors for non-driving purposes, and grabbing a bite or drinking while driving.

People who love to speed-drive seem to engage more in distracting behaviour. “Those who drive above 80 kmph are reported to be involved in distracting activities more than other drivers. There is an increasing trend in mobile phone use with increase in driving speed. Respondents who drive below 40 kmph listen to background music less than other drivers, and also reported least use of navigation aids,” says the study.

In Kerala, male drivers are seen interacting with fellow passengers more often than female drivers.

Also, women drivers tend not to make changes in the in-vehicle environment (ACs) too often while driving. They also do not use navigation aids as much as men, the study found.

Some road safety experts feel that gender and age differentials in driving behaviour could be partly explained by “young men and fast drivers feeling more confident of their driving skills” than women and elderly drivers.

“The best way to address distracted driving issues would be to have effective laws and enforcement on the one hand, and create regular awareness (among) public and stakeholder engagement on the other,” says road safety expert Nalin Sinha, Consultant, Global Health Advocacy Incubator.

Sinhs further says driving behaviour may vary from State to State and the types of roads, such as expressways and highways, arterial roads and urban streets. Weather conditions and level of enforcement may also play a role in driver behaviour.

On a broader scale, Sinha says, distracted driving is also emerging as a new challenge for road safety and in-depth studies are required in Indian cities and highways to understand the scale of problem and find solutions.

Moreover, to address the road safety issue and reduce road traffic-related injuries and deaths, many countries are focusing on key behavioural risk factors, such as speeding, drink driving, helmet, and seat-belt compliance.

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