A group of road charities and organisations has today written to
Android, Microsoft and the GSMA (Groupe Spéciale Mobile
Association), urging them to include an 'opt out' driving mode as
standard across mobile handsets. Technology to automatically
prevent distracting alerts while driving, the coalition warns, is
urgently needed to tackle "the needless deaths and serious
injuries caused by drivers using handheld mobile phones behind
the wheel".
The letter comes ahead of Apple's expected release this week of
its iOS 11 system update, which will include a 'Do Not Disturb
While Driving' mode that detects when someone is driving and
turns off calls, text messages and notifications [1].
Brake and the RAC’s Be Phone Smart campaign,
together with Brighton and Hove City Council, the Parliamentary
Advisory Council on Transport Safety, RED Driving School, Road
Safety GB and RoadPeace have applauded the new iPhone feature as
it can automatically prevent dangerous mobile phone distractions
occurring in the first place.
In the letter, the coalition urges Android and Microsoft to
follow suit, pledging to roll out an opt out driving mode in
their next updates which will:
- Automatically, as a default setting, switch on when sensors
in the handset detect the user is driving;
- Turn the screen blank and suspend any push
notifications;
- Be able to send automatic replies via SMS to anyone
contacting the user to inform them that they are driving;
- Only permit the handset to be used in conjunction with a
hands-free device when enabled; and
- Provide evidence that the phone was in ‘drive safe’ mode –
potentially leading to reduced insurance premiums.
The group says the illegal use of handheld mobile phones at the
wheel is now at "epidemic proportions", with an estimated 11
million UK motorists admitting to making or receiving a call
while driving and a shocking five million saying they have taken
photos or videos while at the wheel of a moving vehicle
[2].
Drivers using handsets when driving are four times more likely to
be in a crash that causes injury [3], and reaction times,
when using a mobile at the wheel, are a staggering 33 per cent
slower than when driving after drinking at the maximum England
and Wales drink drive limit [4]. Studies have also shown that the
mere sound of a mobile phone ringing causes distraction and can
increase the crash risk [5].
In 2015 - the latest year for which figures are available in
Great Britain - Department for Transport statistics show that 22
people were killed and 99 were seriously injured in incidents
where a driver was using their handheld phone behind the wheel
[6]. However, there are likely to be many more crashes where the
illegal use of a mobile phone was a contributory factor.
The coalition concludes its letter by stating that "no call, text
or social media update is worth risking a life" and that the
mobile phone industry has "a major part to play in reducing the
distraction caused by phones in the car", reducing deaths and
serious injuries across the globe.
Brake Director of Campaigns, Jason Wakeford,
said: “The illegal use of handheld mobile phones when driving is
a growing menace and a major threat to road safety. Research
shows that using a phone at the wheel affects reaction times as
much as drink driving, increasing the chances of a crash.
“As a society, we have become addicted to our mobile phones, but
a split second distraction caused by a call, text or notification
behind the wheel can be deadly. The industry must play its part
and include technology as standard which helps keep drivers'
attention on the road, saving lives and preventing serious
injuries.”
RAC Be Phone
Smart spokesman Pete
Williams said: “Illegal handheld phone use is one
of the biggest in-car problems of our time and it will take a
concerted effort to get the message across to drivers that it’s
simply not okay.
“We need organisations to work together and to come up with
creative ways of helping drivers realise that no text or tweet
while driving is worth the risk.
“Apple’s imminent iOS update is a major step forward and will
mean that handsets used by millions of people will, for the first
time, include in-built software that can reduce the distraction
risk posed by handheld phones. Now we need the other major
operating systems – Google’s Android and Microsoft’s Windows
Mobile – to follow suit.”
[ENDS]
Notes to editors:
[1] https://www.apple.com/uk/ios/ios-11-preview/
[2] RAC (2016) Snap, chat, text, tweet – anything goes at the
wheel as motorists relax attitudes:http://www.rac.co.uk/press-centre#/pressreleases/snap-chat-text-tweet-anything-goes-at-the-wheel-as-motorists-relax-attitudes-1559464.
[3] University of Western Australia (2005) Role of mobile phones in
motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance: a
case-crossover study.
[4] Transport Research Laboratory (2009) Using a hands-free mobile
whilst driving can be more dangerous than drink driving.
[5] Aston University (2012) Influence of personal
mobile phone ringing and usual intention to answer on driver
error.
[6] Department for Transport (2015) Reported road casualties in
Great Britain: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-annual-report-2015.
