Abstract
Mobile phone usage during driving causes driver distraction, which negatively affects road traffic safety and is becoming an increasingly common cause of traffic accidents. This paper proposes a new methodology, based on anonymized datasets from telecommunication networks and analytical possibilities of data science, which has as its goal to identify a pattern of usage of the mobile phone (in particular voice calls and applications) by drivers while driving. Based on this finding, the methodology is used to identify segments of the road infrastructure on which mobile phone usage is more intense. Applying this methodology enables stakeholders in the road traffic safety system to propose targeted measures (educational, legal, or engineering) precisely on the sections where it is most vital to do so in order to reduce mobile phone usage and enhance road safety. The proposed methodology was implemented and demonstrated on two pilot sections on state roads in the Republic of Croatia. Research results point to the fact that the percentage of drivers who use the mobile phone for voice calls or for app usage is exceptionally high (10.68% to 33.90%) and presents a serious threat to road traffic safety.
Highlights
Using a mobile phone or communicational services while driving has become one of the key factors of distraction, which significantly affects the driver’s reaction speed, which, in turn, acts as a causal factor of road traffic accidents, negatively contributing to traffic safety overall [1]
European Commission has identified this problem in its “Vision Zero” strategy, which is in force until 2030
On all four sections, the frequency of active mobile phone usage by the driver is very high. It amounts to almost 20%, which means that almost every fifth driver is using his phone to make a voice call or is using some of his mobile apps
Summary
Using a mobile phone or communicational services while driving has become one of the key factors of distraction, which significantly affects the driver’s reaction speed, which, in turn, acts as a causal factor of road traffic accidents, negatively contributing to traffic safety overall [1]. European Commission has identified this problem in its “Vision Zero” strategy, which is in force until 2030 It has proposed a key parameter of success, through which the share of drivers who use their mobile phone while driving will be determined. The aim of the research is to develop and demonstrate a new methodology for identifying key and critical segments of road infrastructure on which the characteristic pattern of mobile phone usage by drivers while driving can be determined. The final result of the research will involve the establishment of the process of defining the behavioral pattern of mobile phone usage by drivers while driving, with the aim of identifying critical segments of road traffic infrastructure. The final result includes demonstrating the methodology on two chosen segments of the Croatian road network
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