PETALING JAYA: While road safety regulations and traffic laws may not explicitly disallow applying make-up, drinking or eating while driving, indulging in any of these can still lead to distracted driving, says an expert.
Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) chairman Dr Wong Shaw Voon said “distracted driving” is a significant road safety concern because it diverts the driver’s attention from the road and increases the risk of accidents.
“Activities that take a driver’s focus away from driving, even a momentary glance away from the road, can have serious consequences.
“No doubt, many motorists feel competent and have ‘practised’ to the point where they are proficient enough to reply to a text message, eat, put on make-up, or take a sip of water, while holding the steering wheel with one hand.
“When you think you are proficient enough to drive with one hand and do other things with the other, you are jeopardising the safety of other road users,” he said when contacted.
Wong also said motorists should exercise caution when reaching for the many control buttons or screens in their vehicles, as these could also take their eyes off the road, even if momentarily.
He said according to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, modern car designs often include various controls and features within easy reach of the driver with the aim of minimising distractions and enhancing safety while driving.
He said these designs are intended to ensure drivers can operate essential functions, such as climate controls, audio systems, and infotainment screens, without taking their eyes off the road for extended periods or reaching too far away from the steering wheel.
“It’s important to note that even though these controls are designed to be easily accessible, drivers should still exercise caution and use them responsibly.
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“Interacting with any device or control inside the car, even if it is within easy reach, can still be a form of distracted driving if it diverts the driver’s attention from the road,” he added.
He advised motorists to mitigate risks by familiarising themselves with the location and functions of controls to minimise the time spent fiddling with them.
“Use voice commands or hands-free features to interact with infotainment systems and phone calls.
“Limit non-essential features while driving, such as adjusting detailed settings on the infotainment system or searching for specific music tracks, and prioritise driving and focus on the road and traffic condition at all times,” he said when asked to comment on a recent case where a woman was penalised for driving while using a phone placed on her lap.
To this, Wong said the act of putting the phone on the lap is a form of distracted driving.
“When you place the phone on your lap, it requires you to look down, taking your eyes off the road. This action diverts your attention from driving and can significantly increase the risk of accidents.
“Distracted driving, including using a phone while driving, is a leading cause of road accidents,” he said, while reminding drivers to use a phone holder or mount to keep the phone at eye level and within easy reach.
Wong also called on drivers to use hands-free technology when making or receiving calls so that they can keep both hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road, while activities like texting or using apps while driving is a definite no-no.
“If you must use your phone, pull over to a safe location and stop the vehicle before using the device.
“When you’re behind the wheel, your primary focus should be driving safely,” he said.
On smoking, Wong said if the lit cigarette accidentally falls onto clothing or the car’s interior during the impact of an accident, it can cause burns or start a fire inside the vehicle, posing an additional danger.
Besides this, he said the deployment of airbags during an accident can also cause complications if a lit cigarette or any other solid object is in the way of the airbag.
On using the phone as a driving navigator, Wong said drivers should key in the destination before setting off, rather than fiddling with it on the road.
“Some people will say that driving long distances with the mobile phone on navigation drains the battery and they only switch on the navigation when nearer to the destination, which means you have to operate the phone while driving.
“For safety, please stop the car to get it done,” he added.
