In-vehicle distraction and fatal accidents in England and Wales.

The paper describes the coding and analysis of a database of police fatal accident reports to investigate the extent to which in-vehicle distraction is a contributory factor in vehicle crashes. A particular focus has been the involvement of mobile telephones and entertainment systems. Analysis of accidents occurring over the period 1985-1995 shows that in-vehicle distraction is reported as a contributory factor in about 2% of fatal accidents (although this figure may be a conservative estimate). Specific examples of distraction attributed to entertainment systems and telephones have been identified. Electronic driver information systems are also of particular interest, but have not featured in the available data. Work is progressing, on an annual cycle, to obtain, code and analyse further data and this is expected to provide an invaluable source of information for accident researchers.