The research, carried out from psychologists at the University of Sussex, shows that drivers who are engaged in conversations that spark their visual imagination are much less able to spot and react to potential hazards. When the drivers involved in the study were asked about a subject that required them to visualise it, they focussed on a smaller area of the road ahead of them and failed to see hazards, even when they looked directly at them.
The study was published in the Transportation Research Journal, with the researchers claiming their evidence shows conversations may use more of the brain’s visual processing resources than previously understood.
In response, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) said safety must be a priority.
Deputy chief executive James Hookham commented: “A lot of our members have policies that prohibit mobile phone use in lorry cabs or have zero tolerance to abuse – drivers will be dismissed if they break the law.
“But the nature of the transport industry means some operators need to stay in regular contact with their drivers, especially if they are making lots of deliveries during the day. Phones and telematics equipment are valuable tools, but safety is paramount. Essential phone conversations should be kept short and chatting should be discouraged.”
Hookham added that Traffic Commissioners took a serious view of operators who were responsible for talking to their drivers on hand-held mobile phones.
Meanwhile safety charity Brake has called on the Government to rethink legislation on using handheld mobiles behind the wheel.
Lucy Amos, research advisor for Brake, said: “Distracted driving is a major cause behind road crashes; pulling the drivers’ attention away from the road and its potential hazards, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. This new study is only the latest of many which adds weight to extending the existing legislation to cover all mobile phone use within a vehicle, not just the use of hand-held mobile devices.
“We call on the Government to take action and remove the clear and present danger of mobile phones on our roads.”
