The DGT indicates which couple behind the wheel is safer and which couple is more distracting
Traveling by car with friends, partner or family makes the journey more enjoyable, although this small space can be the subject of many discussions. The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) indicates that the co-driver and the other occupants can reduce or increase the risk of an accident with their behavior. Just as looking at your phone while driving is dangerous, passenger behavior can also be distracting.
The officers may even give you a ticket if you argue or show affection towards your seatmate if they believe the situation could have led to dangerous driving. “Any activity added to the task of driving, such as taking into account what the co-driver is doing or saying, will reduce the driver’s ability to pay attention,” argues Fermina Sánchez, a DGT technical consultant-psychologist in the magazine Traffic and Road Safety. . Although their presence should not always be a distraction as their indications can help and provide useful information for the journey. Guidance can also be helpful while driving if the person next to you warns of potential dangers. In addition, if you get into the car with more people, you will avoid the temptation to reach for the mobile phone behind the wheel.
Several studies conducted in the United States and Italy have shown that the worst car companions are young male co-drivers, as they are said to have the most distracting behavior, especially if they are the same age. A conclusion that was also drawn from Línea Directa’s research into the worst combination of driver and co-driver. In addition, Monash University research finds that young drivers are more easily distracted and negatively affected “by their lack of experience”.
The DGT indicates that the safest couple behind the wheel is a female driver and a male co-driver. The crash rate is 0.014. It is followed by the combination of two women, with a risk of 0.03%. Still, the experts confirm that despite the results of these studies, there is no “categorical answer to the question of whether it is better to travel alone or accompanied, let alone limited to gender or age”. It’s a “matter of teaching good behavior and reading the driver’s needs.”
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
