Preventing and Reducing Distracted Driving Using Smartphone

Abstract

This paper discusses the parameters causing distracted driving of automobiles, especially the use of mobiles during driving either replying on phones or texting. Also, it examines previous studies that have shed the light on this analysis of the responses of drivers on a survey prepared to measure and quantify this phenomenon in Kuwait state, and finally suggesting some approaches or technical methods -using Smartphone applications- to prevent or reduce the effects of distracted driving on driving cycles and accidents occurrence. A questionnaire is carefully designed to measure the spread of this phenomenon between drivers in Kuwait and reveal if such drivers knowing its bad effects on them and other human beings and insure the smoothness of driving on streets. The study includes about 735 drivers includes Kuwaiti, non- Kuwaiti, male and female drivers. SPSS is used here to analyze the responses and hypotheses testing. It is found that using mobiles with different applications contributes to distracted driving with high percentages and causes unsafe situations for drivers and passengers and may cause traffic accidents. The need for Distracted Driving Prevention System (DDPS) is crucial to decrease Distracted Driving (DD) and increase safety of driver and passengers. The implantation indexes of different parameters supporting the DDPS are over "very good" which indicates that if such parameters are controlled and drivers' commitment is good the DDPS will be in good level and DD will be decreased. It was found that 25% of drivers rarely use mobiles while driving, and about 17% have never used mobiles during driving. On the other hand about 60% of the drivers sample think that using mobiles during driving is very dangerous and 80% think that this may cause an accident. While the results showed that while stopping at traffic lights 15% of drivers never talk by mobile, 25% rarely talk and 36% are “sometimes” talk. The results section has more details of percentages of all cases discussed in this study.