Have you ever calculated how many meters a car travels while the driver is looking at the smartphone screen, and not at the road? So, this distance is equal to the length of a football field. It is not surprising that the smartphone is often the cause of numerous accidents in different countries.
Naturally, not every use of the gadget while driving immediately leads to an accident. This is a kind of “Russian roulette”, each such moment can turn into a tragedy. Or maybe not turn around! But if you answered the message yesterday and calmly drove on, you should not conclude that such behavior is safe.
What makes people grab their smartphone when they are driving? A lot of articles have been written about the general dependence on social networks, instant messaging and information flow. But a recent study identified three types of drivers who are particularly prone to gadget distractions, says psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Grant Hilary Brenner. Researchers at the University of Bamberg (Germany) looked at this problem from the perspective of the Big Five. This is a model of a person’s personality in the perception of others. The “Five” includes such parameters as:
- extraversion (on the opposite pole – introversion);
- benevolence, flexibility;
- conscientiousness, conscientiousness;
- neuroticism (on the opposite pole – emotional stability);
- openness to experience, intelligence.
Our habit and manner of using a smartphone are related to personality traits. The need for communication, impatience, boredom and information hunger – all this affects the relationship with gadgets. The ability to prioritize, assess risks, the way we make decisions also play an important role in how reactive we are (that is, with what strength and energy we react to the impact of certain stimuli).
Taking a smartphone in hand, the driver increases the risk of an accident
Smartphone interaction has become so deeply embedded in our lives that we automatically respond to alerts or pick it up when the impulse to write or check information arises.
A study by the University of Bramberg revealed three personality profiles of drivers who are particularly prone to smartphone distractions.
1. Emotionally stable type. This is a benevolent, open to new experience, conscious person with a neutral level of extraversion. He is not too diligent and not risk-focused, but he has a need for new experience and information and is ready to please others with a quick response to a message.
2. Open to new experience extrovert. This is a sociable, benevolent personality type with low consciousness and neutral neuroticism. He is characterized by a high degree of socialization and a constant search for new experiences. He willingly uses a smartphone while driving, without assessing the degree of risk.
3. Conscientious driver. This profile has high rates of neuroticism and conscientiousness. They are accommodating, extroverted people with a low degree of openness to new experiences. They are “let down” just by consciousness, which pushes them to complete tasks, to respond to incoming messages. And neurotic features do not allow you to completely switch to the traffic situation.
Taking a smartphone in hand, the driver increases the risk of an accident. When we feel the impulse to respond to a message or share a photo of a funny car in the next row, each of us should stop and ask ourselves the question: is this momentary desire worth the possible consequences?