Drivers distracted 7% of the time
Car drivers take their eyes off the road for over two miles in a one hour journey whilst driving in urban traffic, according to new eye-tracking research conducted by Peugeot.
The French car manufacturer studied multiple drivers undertaking 25 identical six-mile journeys, using special glasses worn by the drivers to analyse exactly where their eyes looked whilst driving a selection of compact SUV models.
The results showed that, on average drivers have their eyes off the road 7 per cent of the time. During a one hour drive at 30mph, that equates to drivers travelling a staggering distance of over 3,350 metres without looking at the road – or the length of almost 32 football pitches.
Peugeot commissioned the study to highlight its innovative i-Cockpit system which has a smaller steering wheel and raised instrument panel to promote less eye movement during driving.
In 2016, out of 1,445 fatal crashes in Britain that resulted in one or more deaths, the police recorded 397 incidences of the contributory factor of ‘failure to look’ and a further 140 incidences of the contributory factors of driver in-vehicle distractions, distractions outside the vehicle, and phone use.
Peugeot UK managing director, David Peel, said, ‘We all know the dangers of taking your eyes off the road, whether to adjust the radio or the temperature in the car. When you add the continued distraction of mobile phones, talking to passengers, something catching your eye outside the car and even eating or drinking a coffee, it’s easy to see how the average driver could be in control of a car yet not be looking at the road for over 3,350 metres in a one hour journey.’
