Every second pedestrian is distracted
Every third driver on Swiss roads is distracted. But: Even when crossing roads, every second person does not pay close attention to their surroundings. This is shown by a recent BFU survey.
Inattention is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents. According to the survey, every third person in a car on Swiss roads is distracted. This is the result of a recent survey by the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU). The high numbers are problematic for road safety, the consulting agency complains.
According to the report, distraction is still one of the most frequent causes of accidents. This is not without reason: Every year, around 60 people are killed on Swiss roads as a result of carelessness. 1100 people are seriously injured. For the first time, the BFU has conducted a representative survey. Distracted driving is particularly common among pedestrians. Half of them do not pay attention to the traffic when crossing the road.
Distraction as a high accident risk
Those who are distracted on the road increase their risk of accidents and also endanger other people, the BFU writes in its statement. "The most dangerous activities are those in which the eyes are directed away from the road, for example writing a message on the cell phone or reaching for objects in the car," BFU expert Hertach is quoted as saying. Writing a text message increases the risk of an accident sixfold.
The five most important tips for safe driving:
- Avoid multitasking - at the wheel, on foot and on the bike
- Keep your cell phone in your pocket - no matter how you travel
- Always keep an eye on traffic
- Program navi in car before driving
- To do something important while driving: stop briefly
Cell phone as the most common cause of distraction
The study also shows that cell phones are used most frequently. According to the BFU, 5 percent of drivers use their cell phones in the car. Despite the hands-free system, they type on the cell phone or look at the display. What is striking is that the younger the person, the more often they were distracted in traffic.
"Every tenth person between the ages of 15 and 29 looked at their cell phone or typed on the device while crossing a street on foot," explains the head of the BFU survey. The cell phone is rarely used on a bicycle, but the wearing of headphones often leads to distraction.
Source: AAIB
