What's the worst distraction for drivers?

The research by Fleet News magazine examined the impact of various distractions on drivers' reactions times, including fiddling with controls, eating at the wheel and rummaging in a pocket or folder for an "important document" or piece of information.

Emergency stopping distances increased in some cases by more than 20 metres at 60mph, or the length of two double-decker buses.

The tests were carried out using the British School of Motoring's (BSM) driving simulator. The device, based around a Vauxhall Corsa, featured a clutch, brake, accelerator, gearstick and steering wheel, as well as a series of controls found on a standard road going vehicle. The only real difference was that drivers were faced with a computer screen to simulate the open road.

Emergency stops were performed at "full concentration" and then re-assessed with the driver facing several different types of distraction.

Test results

Tests carried out with the driver using a hand-held phone showed that recent legislation banning their use was probably a sound move with emergency reaction time increasing by 53%.

However, mobile phones did not produce the worst results. Fiddling with controls, such as radios or satellite navigation devices, made reaction times jump by 93% when travelling at 60mph, increasing stopping distance at this speed from 59 to 85 metres.

This was even worse than 'texting' at the wheel, which increased reaction time by almost 60%, adding around 14 metres to stopping distance at 40mph.

Attempting to eat from a packet of crisps while driving made reaction times leap by 29%, while rummaging through a bag or coat pocket produced a similar result with around 15 metres being added to the stopping distance at 60 mph.

John Maslen, editor of Fleet News, told us: "What is most striking about this research is how a tiny delay in hitting the brake pedal leads to such a large increase in braking distance. No matter what electronic safety devices are fitted to your car, if you don't hit the brakes in time, you are more likely to crash.

"Drivers must be educated about the dangers of not keeping their eyes on the road. It could mean the difference between life or death for someone."

Proper control

Just last week a lorry driver who was seen eating a packet of crisps while negotiating a roundabout was fined £250. Andrew Kitch, 35, of Hullock Road, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was steering his removal lorry with his elbows as he munched on the snack, according to the police.

A traffic officer from Northumbria Police spotted the driver as he negotiated a mini-roundabout on Benton Lane, North Tyneside, on December 14 last year.

The same force was recently criticised for prosecuting a nursery nurse for eating an apple while she made a left hand turn.

Mr Kitch, who represented himself at North Tyneside Magistrates Court, denied the offence, as well as a separate charge of failing to produce the previous day's tachograph records.

However, magistrates found him guilty and fined him £250 for failing to keep proper control of the lorry, plus £200 in costs. There was no separate fine for the tachograph offence. He admitted a charge of failing to secure his fuel cap and allowing diesel to spill and was fined £50.

A Northumbria Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokeswoman commented: "Driving a vehicle whilst not in proper control of it, for whatever reason, is potentially lethal. That is why the CPS takes these types of offences very seriously."