Portable in-car technology - what are the risks and rewards?

29 September 2006

A five-point safety action plan has been devised by DriveTech (UK) to help ensure that motorists exposure to road risk is limited while they benefit from the use of portable in-car driving aids to improve business efficiency.

The advice, coupled with a list of ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ highlighting the benefits and concerns surrounding the ever-growing use of portable satellite navigation systems, traffic monitoring systems and speed camera detectors, comes as latest Government data reveals that ‘failing to look properly’ is the most frequently reported contributory factor to crashes.

With at-work vehicles increasingly being turned into ‘mobile offices’, the Department for Transport’s latest annual report on road casualty statistics analyses contributory factors to road crashes for the first time.

‘Failing to look properly’ headed the list being involved in 32% of all crashes in 2005, according to the report. Five of the six most frequently reported contributory factors were some kind of driver or rider error or reaction. For fatal accidents the most frequently reported contributory factor was loss of control, which was involved in 35% of fatal accidents. Officials examined the reason(s) behind 147,509 crashes on UK roads last year.

DriveTech (UK), the country’s leading provider of at-work driving risk management, driver assessment and driver training solutions, believes that the incorrect use and placement of portable in-car information technology increases the likelihood of at-work drivers being involved in a crash as they become distracted by the technology and ultimately lose control of their vehicle.

Managing director Jim Kirkwood said: “Today, many fleet managers are faced with a dilemma - whether to encourage the use of portable in-car aids to improve business efficiency or whether to discourage their use on the basis that they can increase a driver’s exposure to occupational road risk.

“We believe that portable ‘sat-nav’, traffic monitoring systems and speed camera detectors, like mobile phones, are a significant added distraction while driving. This, in turn, potentially increases the driver’s exposure to risk behind the wheel, particularly in the first few days of use.”

However, DriveTech (UK) does not believe that such technology should be banned. Mr Kirkwood said: “We live in the ‘real world’ and accept that these technologies can be used legally and legitimately under existing road safety law even though there is growing evidence that they are a distraction to drivers.

“We therefore recommend that each individual company undertakes a risk assessment and balances the benefits against the risks and includes their recommendation in the company’s car policy.”

With factory-fitted driving aids, vehicle manufacturers spend millions of pounds ensuring the technology meets rigorous ergonomic and safety standards. This means that devices are located in the optimum place to ensure drivers remain focused on the road ahead and their attention is not diverted to an ill-placed system. Additionally, satellite navigation devices fitted on the production line can only be programmed when the vehicle is stationary with limited functionality available to the driver when on the move unlike some aftermarket devices.

DriveTech (UK)’s ‘pros’ and ‘cons’

In favour

• Helps drivers navigate to an unknown location, particularly in urban areas
• Avoids use of map (and associated distractions)
• Improves journey planning
• Drivers cannot miss turnings, which reduces journey time, cost of journey and cuts stress
• Drivers cannot ‘get lost’
• Allows ease of navigation due to unexpected diversions
• Drivers have advanced warning of congestion and are able to take an alternative route
• Helps drivers to stick to speed limits

Against

• Devices can cause distraction with drivers looking at the screen or distracted by voice interruption
• Due to ‘portability’ the device may not be mounted in the best position - i.e. away from vehicle controls and safety features such as airbags
• The technology can ‘de-skill’ the driver’s ability to plan ahead and think for themselves in relation to navigation and traffic hazards
• The device may obstruct a driver’s vision if not correctly positioned
• The ability to re-programme some devices while driving may prove tempting
• ‘Sat nav’ systems do not always direct drivers along ‘low risk’ routes
• The portable device may become a ‘flying missile’ in the event of an accident
• Driver’s reliance on the equipment may reduce concentration levels
• The verbal/visual instructions could result in unsafe/unplanned manoeuvres
• Many systems don’t recognise road height or width restrictions and therefore advise routes unsuitable for larger vehicles
• If left in the vehicle whilst unattended, the device/vehicle can become a theft target
• Software is not always up to date (e.g. some systems don’t recognise the M6 toll road)

DriveTech (UK)’s five-point action plan if a company permits portable in-car technology

• The unit should be positioned outside the driver’s central field of view, in particular the driver’s ‘A’ zone. Consideration should also be given to positioning the system outside of arm’s reach to minimise re-programming temptation
• The unit should be positioned at the base of the windscreen
• No attempt should be made to adjust or re-programme the unit while moving - stop in a safe location and then adjust
• The visual guidance should be switched off (if possible) to minimise distraction
• The unit, especially ‘sat-nav’ should be removed from an unattended vehicle and any suction pad marks should be wiped away to reduce the risk of theft from vehicle.

EDITOR’S NOTES
DriveTech (UK) plc is a leading provider of  ‘driving at work’ risk management, driver assessment and driver training solutions.

DriveTech (UK)’s goal is to reduce both an organisation’s vehicle business costs and the personal risk for ‘at work’ drivers, by significantly improving driver ABC - attitude, behaviour and competence - therefore supporting driver safety and corporate ‘duty of care’ requirements.

DriveTech (UK) has won the Institute of Transport Management’s ‘Fleet Award for Driver Training’ in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and its ‘European Driver Safety Specialist’ award in 2005.

For further information contact:

David Richards at DriveTech (UK) at david.richards@drivetech.co.uk or 01344 467271.