Driver distraction : Reflections on the past, present and future.

There is a large and converging body of evidence to suggest that certain activities, objects and events inside and outside the vehicle can, and do, distract drivers, leading to degraded driving performance, increased crash risk and crashes. This paper is a transcript of the opening Keynote Address given by the author at the International Conference on Driver Distraction held in Sydney, Australia, on 2 June 2005. The paper outlines recent and emerging technological developments and their potential impact on the driving task, including their potential to distract drivers. The paper then focuses on what is known more generally about driver distraction, what it being done to manage it, and what ought to be done in Australia to limit its impact on driver performance and safety.