Distraction in traffic.

Many drivers, as well as cyclists and pedestrians, are occupied with all kinds of activities that can distract their attention from traffic, like listening to music, conducting a conversation on their mobile phone, or reading and typing text messages (texting). Distraction has negative effects on traffic behaviour. The precise number of road crashes in which distraction plays a role is unknown. An extensive American study indicates that in 68% of the crashes the driver was distracted immediately before the crash. Types of distractions that were found to occur frequently, were, among others, talking to a passenger, telephone use and operating devices. Considering the increasing diffusion of electronic devices in traffic, portable media devices as well as advanced driver support systems, the number of distraction-related crashes is likely to increase. Various countermeasures can mitigate the negative effects of distraction in traffic, e.g. public information, education, or technical facilities that, for example, make it impossible to operate navigation equipment while driving, or to use a mobile phone in traffic