Understanding Driver Distraction: Key Performance Indicator Findings from Baseline and Trendline in 4 European Countries

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Distraction while driving is a critical factor contributing to road accidents, and both the Baseline and Trendline projects aimed to quantify and analyze its impact. Funded by the European Commission, these projects developed a range of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to road safety, including one focused on distraction during driving. The Distraction KPI measures the percentage of drivers not using handheld mobile devices while driving. The Baseline project established a methodological framework for collecting and analyzing these KPIs, while the Trendline project built on this foundation by collecting new data to track changes over time. Using slightly updated common methodologies, the projects applied specific criteria for site selection and data collection, enabling a comparative analysis of distraction levels and other safety-related behaviors across participating countries, including Czechia, Poland, Portugal and Sweden. Methods: Data collection was conducted in urban, rural, and motorway settings across the participating countries using standardized observation methods. The observation focused on a minimum set of vehicle types, including passenger cars, light goods vehicles (LGVs), and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). In some countries, additional vehicle types or subtypes were also included in data collection process to provide a more detailed overview. Observers were stationed at randomly pre-selected locations that met all predefined criteria, where they recorded drivers' behavior using paper sheets, mobile applications or using automatic detection via roadside cameras. Sites were carefully selected according to strict criteria to minimize confounding factors, such as traffic flow and road design elements. A significant level of observations was needed to ensure sufficient sample sizes and reduce variability. A robust data validation process was implemented to ensure that only uninfluenced vehicles were included in the analysis, thereby enhancing the reliability of the findings. The results from Baseline and Trendline were also compared with self-reported data on mobile phone use while driving. This data was gathered through the ESRA (E-Survey of Road Users’ Attitudes) project, an international collaboration of research organizations and road safety institutes. ESRA aims to assess road safety performance and culture across multiple countries, providing valuable insights into drivers' self-reported distraction levels due to handheld and hands-free mobile device use while driving. Results: The Baseline project revealed high compliance rates across participating countries. In Portugal, 97–98% of drivers on all road types did not use handheld devices, with the highest compliance observed on motorways (98%). Czechia and Poland reported similarly high rates, while Sweden showed slightly lower compliance, particularly on urban streets (94%). Preliminary findings from the Trendline project confirm the stability of these results but highlight a concerning 4% increase in mobile device use while driving in Portugal, signaling the need for targeted interventions in line with the country’s Road Safety Strategy. In other countries, Trendline findings remained consistent with previous data. In the Czech Republic (2024), Trendline observations (n=19,706) showed that 97.5% of drivers across all vehicle types complied with the ban on handheld devices. However, compliance was slightly lower among heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers at 94.4% (n=2,204). In Poland, a total of 60,147 observations were conducted under Trendline, with an overall compliance rate of 97.1% across all vehicle types. The highest compliance was among passenger car drivers (97.7%, n=49,853), followed by light goods vehicle (LGV) drivers (94.1%, n=5,118) and HGV drivers, who had the lowest compliance at 93.4% (n=5,176). Findings from the ESRA3 study provide additional insight into self-reported mobile phone use while driving. Among car drivers, 26% in Portugal, 28% in the Czech Republic, 30% in Sweden, and 31% in Poland admitted to using a handheld mobile phone at least once in the past 30 days. When considering hands-free mobile phone use, the reported rates ranged from 73% in Portugal to 48% in the Czech Republic. Discussion and Conclusions: The findings confirm high compliance rates across participating countries, validating the effectiveness of standardized observation methods. The transition to digital data collection has improved accuracy and efficiency, reinforcing efforts to harmonize road safety monitoring in Europe. However, the 4% increase in mobile device use in Portugal signals the need for targeted interventions, particularly in urban areas. Compliance remained stable in Czechia and Poland, though lower rates among LGV and HGV drivers highlight the need for tailored measures. Self-reported ESRA3 data shows persistent mobile phone use while driving across all countries, with Portugal, Czechia, Poland, and Sweden reporting similar trends. Hands-free use remains widespread, reinforcing the need for behavioral interventions alongside enforcement. These results support the European Commission’s focus on distraction as a key safety indicator and call for continued efforts to reduce road fatalities and injuries.