At KAUST, to achieve a safe environment for living and working, it is crucial that our roads are also safe, as it directly impacts our efforts to Keep KAUST Safe. Safe drivers pay attention to the road when they are driving or riding their vehicle and in doing so, they avoid accidents and injury to themselves and other road users. Just imagine how much safer the roads would be if everyone made a conscious effort to drive safer.
Distracted driving is doing another activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving, for example, texting, eating while driving, and using a mobile device (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014).
Distracted driving is dangerous because it can increase the likelihood of a road traffic accident. The driver’s reaction times are up to 50% slower when using a mobile phone while driving1.
What drivers can do
- Avoid multitasking while driving. Tasks such as adjusting mirrors, selecting music, eating, making phone calls, or reading texts and emails should be completed before or after your trip.
- Try using an app to help reduce distractions while driving.
What passengers can do
- If you are a passenger in a car with a driver who is not fully focused on driving, don’t hesitate to speak up and ask them to concentrate on the road.
- You can help minimize distractions for the driver by offering to assist with navigation or other tasks.
What parents can do
- Please have a conversation with your children about safe driving, including the rules of the road and responsibilities they need to follow.
- Make sure they understand that driving requires their full attention and that distractions, like texts and phone calls, can wait until they arrive at their destination.
As a role model, set an example by keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel while driving.
End distracting driving, and thank you for Keeping KAUST Safe! For questions or comments, please contact hse@kaust.edu.sa
1Burns, P, Parkes, A, Burton, S, Smith, R, & Burch, D, 2002, How dangerous is driving with a mobile phone? Benchmarking the impairment to alcohol, TRL Report TRL547, TRL Limited, Berkshire, United Kingdom. Retrieved June 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259258482_How_Dangerous_is_Driving_with_a_Mobile_Phone_Benchmarking_the_Impairment_to_Alcohol
