The Problem with Distracted Driving and Smartphone GPS

Discuss about the GPS System for Accident Analysis and Prevention.

Smartphones are considered to be part of our daily lives. Besides being used for the normal calling, texting among many other uses, smartphones offer other functionalities such as providing a GPS system such as Google maps which can be a source of distraction to the driver. While there is some legislation that has been passed to discourage the use of mobile phones while driving in many countries, this has not been effective because of the privacy that cars offer especially those that have been tinted (Prat, Planes, Gras, & Sullman, 2015)..  The problem, however, is not having a smart phone in the hands of the user, it is distracted driving that is the cause of all the accidents. The functionalities that the smart phones provide especially social media is the cause of the accidents. The GPS system of a Smartphone helps in navigation and is deployed by the driver to locate a certain destination (Zhou & Curry,2015).The challenge is how to ensure that a driver uses the GPS functionality in the smartphone to allow the driver to use the GPS on their smartphone without causing distraction on the part of the motorist (Zhou & Curry,2015).

The three research questions are;

• Q1: Recently, there have been a lot of car accidents related to using Smart phones while driving. One reason is that they were looking for GPS system in their phones. How would this problem be solved?
• Q2: There is no rule of forbidding drivers from using the GPS in their smart phones while they are driving. Provide an alternative method for the drivers to help them check the navigation system without looking to their phones?
• Q3: GPS screen size might be unsuitable for most drivers. How would the GPS companies enhance their devices to fit the drivers need?

To develop an explanatory theory on how GPS functionality on smart phones is a distraction and how this can be improved to reduce accidents caused by motorists. To provide alternative methods that drivers can use other than using GPS functionality on smartphones. To analyse on ways in which smart phone companies can enhance their devices to fit the drivers needs.

Many mobile devices, especially Smartphone’s, are creating more and more threats for Australian motorists over time (Li & Zhang,2014).. The Safety Association for motorists conducted a study of some 350 scientific articles to measure driver distraction during vehicle piloting. The result can be a bit shocking(Prat, Planes, Gras, & Sullman,2015). Many different things distract drivers from finding their way, which causes them to be distracted half the time. Surprised? While you can distract attention to food, drinking (alcohol, of course), talking to your passengers, makeup, music and other things, the worst distraction known at this time are cell phones and smartphones. Even when using GPS in the cellphones to locate a destination can be a distraction to motorists. Some of the solutions that can reduce the number of accidents on the roads are; the use of mobile phones, incrustation of cell phone lockers in cars (Llerena,et.al 2015). Such proposals have already been discussed in some countries. And some countries have already passed laws that force car owners to build a cell phone blocker in their car. This is not an easy question because it refers to the freedom of the people and to the behavior deeply established in automobiles.

Research Questions

The distraction of cell phones is more dangerous than other activities of distraction. Trying to get direction on cell phones by using GPS  will generate a lot of attention and if a driver needs to make a decision quickly on the road, it would be much more difficult. And as statistics provide an overview of such situations often arise. And from this point of view, the proposals of embedding of signal blockers in the cars sound quite reasonable, including the jammer for each car is legal, and proper use can be very effective.

And the range of activity of frequency inhibitor is limited to half a meter around a car. The device can be configured to do only the things you need. It is possible to configure the device for the prohibition only an SMS or email or even all functions of the phone (Song, et.al,2017). However, emergency 911 calls are always activated. Jammer mobile phones work very comfortably. You do not have to suppress all the signals from your phone, but they work when the engine is running or when the vehicle is not parked (Lee, et.al2015).. Therefore, you can still use your phone while calling at the park or in a traffic accident to get help. The device can also set only the things it will do. It is possible to configure the device for the prohibition only an SMS or email or even all functions of the phone. However, emergency 911 calls are always activated (Lansdown & Walker,2015).. Therefore, the cell phone will not prevent you from seeking help in dangerous situations. Therefore, if you want a less disturbing driving experience and are not tempted to answer the call when using GPS, you can install a portable cellular blocker in your car (Sullman& Tasci, 2015). Feel safety and convenience during your trip. It is your health and your life at stake, and the health and lives of your family and loved ones. So take some steps to keep them safe.

To avoid any distraction when driving a phone jammer can be used, this stops from being constantly interrupted by ringtones when using your smartphone GPS.  A cell phone jammer is a sure way to ensure that the use of GPS while driving is not interrupted.  One cannot receive calls and also those within a vicinity of 60-80 feet radius from where a cell phone jammer is (Lee, et.al2015).

Solutions for Reducing Accidents on the Road

The laws provide that motorists are not supposed to fiddle around with a smartphone or any other device when trying to find a direction, instead, they are supposed to pull over and check on the direction before embarking on the journey (Munoz  & Sánchez,2017)..

Not having a GPS navigator does not mean much less that you have to make a blind motorcycle route. In fact, many motorists use their own smartphone to plan the trip, be guided by the roads or take advantage of interesting mobile applications that make them the safest route or solve the search for gas stations, hotels, places of entertainment, etc(Song, et.al,2017)…

A smartphone holder for a smartphone is a solution specially designed for motorists. Therefore, the fixing system goes to the steering nut and not to the handlebar that is usually the most common (Llerena,et.al,2015). This offers the driver a good visibility of his mobile phone at eye level without having to make strange movements with his head that can destabilize him or her(Munoz  & Sánchez,2017)… Another interesting point is that it rotates 360 degrees so you can place your phone in horizontal mode by default and when you want to see well the plot of the next curve turn it to vertical mode (He, et.a,2015). A smartphone holder can also be important to mount the smartphone that also allows another possibility of placement on the screen. The immediate effect is that you will have more space on the handlebar to place other types of accessories, such as adapters, chargers or connectors with which to always carry the battery and other accessories(Lansdown & Walker,2015)

The key is that the drivers themselves are aware of the real risk that exists to suffer or cause an accident when using the mobile while driving but other solutions can also be launched such as:

Increase awareness and promote the use of mobile phone lock apps while driving (Thompson,& Wundersitz, 2016).

Require certifications to approve applications related to mobility service (eg: ISO seal) as safe and compatible with driving (Chen & Tsai,2017).

Improve the control of distractions by road authorities. Graduate the sanctions depending on the situation of distraction. Involve large Internet companies (Google, Facebook, Apple) and operators ( Orange, Vodafone, etc.) in the improvement of mobile applications on GPS  for safer integration in driving(Thompson,& Wundersitz, 2016). Lastly, Introduce a theoretical-practical test on the driving school’s agenda to demonstrate how distractions affect the risk of an accident.

References

Chen, B. H., Huang, S. C., & Tsai, W. H. (2017). Eliminating Driving Distractions management: Human- Computer Interaction with Built-in Applications. IEEE Vehicular Technology Magazine, 12(1), 20-29.

He, J., Choi, W., McCarley, J. S., Chaparro, B. S., & Wang, C. (2015). Texting while driving using Google Glass™: Promising but not distraction-free. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 81, 218-229.

Lansdown, T. C., Stephens, A. N., & Walker, G. H. (2015). Multiple driver distractions: A systemic transport problem. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 74, 360-367.

Lee, P., Cucuras, M., Chun, R. E., Pusateri, G. C., & Jay, W. M. (2015). GPS Usage in Bioptic and Non-Bioptic Low Vision Drivers. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 56(7), 502-502.

Llerena, L. E., Aronow, K. V., Macleod, J., Bard, M., Salzman, S., Greene, W., … & Schupper, A. (2015). An evidence-based review: distracted driver. Journal of trauma  and acute care surgery, 78(1), 147-152.

Li, B., Zhu, K., Zhang, W., Wu, A., & Zhang, X. (2014). A comparative study of two wayfinding aids for simulated driving tasks–single-scale and dual-scale GPS aids. Behaviour & Information Technology, 33(4), 361-371.

Munoz-Organero, M., Ruiz-Blaquez, R., & Sánchez-Fernández, L. (2017). Automatic  detection of traffic lights, street crossings and urban roundabouts combining outlier             detection and deep learning classification techniques based on GPS traces while             driving. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems.

Prat, F., Planes, M., Gras, M. E., & Sullman, M. J. M. (2015). An observational study of  driving distractions on urban roads in Spain. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 74, 8-            16.

Sullman, M. J., Prat, F., & Tasci, D. K. (2015). A roadside study of observable driver distractions. Traffic injury prevention, 16(6), 552-557.

Song, T., Capurso, N., Cheng, X., Yu, J., Chen, B., & Zhao, W. (2017). Enhancing GPS with lane-level navigation to facilitate highway driving. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular  Technology, 66(6), 4579-4591.

Thompson, J. P., Baldock, M. R., Mathias, J. L., & Wundersitz, L. N. (2016). A comparison of reported driving self-regulation by older adults and GPS-based measurements of  their actual driving exposure. Road & Transport Research: A Journal of Australian  and New Zealand Research and Practice, 25(3), 16.

Zhou, X., & Curry, W. (2015). U.S. Patent No. 8,971,927. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.