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April 19, 2016

UConn research shows impact of distracted driving

Peter Morenus/UConn Photo Marisa Auguste, a behavioral analyst with UConn's Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center
By Joe Cooper

Distracted driving in Connecticut seems to be most prevalent during warmer weather and the prime commuting hours of 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to new UConn research.

A UConn researcher has determined there were 7,472 distracted driving crashes in Connecticut in 2015 and that they accounted for about 7 percent of all crashes. Distracted driving was involved in 4 percent of all fatal crashes in Connecticut in 2015 and 9 percent of all crashes resulting in injury.

Thirty percent of the distracted driving crashes occurred during the months of May, June and July. Twenty-six percent of distracted driving crashes occurred during the hours of 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Marisa Auguste, a behavioral analyst with UConn’s Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center, a part of the School of Engineering, said 90 percent of motor vehicle crashes can be attributed to some kind of human error.

The center recently received a five-year, $10 million DOT grant that will support the hiring of 12 new staff to assist state transportation officials with safety analysis. Plans are to bring in a full-time epidemiologist to also assist with research.

“We can’t talk about traffic safety without talking about behavior, especially when you consider all of the texting and driving, talking on the phone while driving, and checking of social media while driving that people are doing today,” Auguste said.

The Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center maintains detailed aggregate statewide transportation data – which is also available to the public through the repository website.

Behavior analysis is relatively new to the field of transportation safety research, Auguste said. In the past, when there was a particular stretch of road known for accidents, engineers might look for physical issues – was there a sharp curve, a dangerous intersection, or poor sight line? But a behavior analysis takes a different view, asking: Are mostly younger drivers involved? Is the area near a late-night bar district where people might be drinking? Were the drivers distracted?

Here are some 2015 distracted driving statistics for Connecticut:

  • A total of 7,472 distracted driving crashes occurred around Connecticut in 2015. This accounts for about 7 percent of all crashes for that year. Distracted driving crashes represent 4 percent of all fatal crashes and 9 percent of all injury crashes.
  • The majority of drivers involved in these crashes (38 percent) were said to be distracted by something inside of their vehicle other than a passenger or an electronic device, such as eating, personal grooming, or a pet.
  • Thirty percent of the distracted driving crashes occurred during the months of May, June and July.
  • Twenty-six percent of distracted driving crashes occurred during the hours of 3 p.m to 5 p.m.
  • Drivers ages 17 to 30 were involved in the largest number of distracted driving crashes (40 percent).
  • When broken down by gender, female motorists were involved in 42 percent of crashes and male motorists were involved in 55 percent.
  • Passenger cars and SUVs were the two most common vehicles types involved in these crashes, representing 66 percent and 20 percent respectively.

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