Published Date: 9th May 2025
10 Driving Distractions
Here are ten research-based distraction types:
1. Advertising hoarding
Anything that takes a driver's eyes away from the road for more than two seconds substantially increases the likelihood that the motorist's vehicle drifts out of correct lane and increases crash risk.
2. Using phone - even in hands-free mode
Using a hands-free kit to make a call is equally dangerous as speaking on a handheld mobile; in both cases your crash risk is four times higher than drivers who do not use a phone.
3. Driving while angry
Angry drivers are more likely to take risks including driving too fast, rapidly changing lanes without warning, tailgating and running red lights.
4. Eating while driving
Drivers who eat and drink at the wheel are two times more likely to crash.
5. Cranking tunes
Listening to loud music slows reaction times of drivers and increases aggressive driving.
6. Squabbling children in the backseat
On a 16-minute drive, parents will - on average - take their eyes off the road for 3 minutes and 22 seconds to look at children in the backseat.
7. Fiddling with the GPS
Voice-based sat navs are safer than using a paper map while driving but can still be distracting. We recommend setting your destination before you begin driving and finding a safe place to pull over if you need to change settings.
8. Teens with passengers
Young drivers are four times more likely to crash when they have friends in the car, and are also less likely to put their seatbelt on.
9. Cycling with headphones on
In 2015, in Great Britain, over 3,339 cyclists were seriously injured or killed. Wearing headphones reduces your awareness of wider road surroundings. Please stay vigilant and look and listen for traffic as you cycle, especially at intersections.
10. Pedestrian stepping into the road with cellphone
Pedestrians are 61% more likely to veer off course if they are talking on a mobile phone.
References (in order):
-Paul Green and Brian Tsang-Wei Lin, How long can drivers look away from the road: some key documents, University of Michigan Transportation Research Insitute (UMTRI), 2014.
-Suzanne McEvoy et al, Role of mobile phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance: a case-crossover study, University of Western Australia, 2005.
-Anger on the road, American Psychological Association, 2005.
-Mark Young et al, Crash dieting: The effects of eating and drinking on driving performance, Accident Analysis & Prevention, 2008.
-Warren Brodsky, The effects of music tempo on simulated driving performance and vehicular control, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 2001.
-Warren Brodsky & Zack Slor, Background music as a risk factor for distraction among young novice drivers. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 2013.
-Judith Charlton & Dr Sjaan Koppel, Children more distracting than mobile phones, Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), 2013.
-Voice-based navigation is a safer way to get around, Virgina Tech Transportation Institute, 2011.
-Brian Tefft et al, Teen driver risk in relation to age and number of passengers, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 2012
-Annie McCartt & Veronika Shabanova Northrup, Factors related to seat belt use among fatally injured teenage drivers, Journal of Safety Research, 2004.
-Reported Road Casualties Great Britain 2015, Department for Transport, 2016, Table RAS30001.
-Eric M. Lamberg & Lisa Muratori, Cell phones change the way we walk, Gait & Posture, Volume 35, Issue 4, April 2012.
