During the summer period, Assurance Prévention wanted to analyze the impact of smartphone notifications on drivers’ behaviour. Once again this year, Develter Innovation was chosen as the preferred partner to conduct this experiment on its driving simulators.* By analysing driver behaviour, this groundbreaking study shows how visual or audible alerts from a smartphone can significantly impair concentration at the wheel.
A full-scale test on a simulator
For this study, volunteer drivers were placed in a Develter driving simulator, which incorporated realistic scenarios combining motorways, cities and secondary roads. An eye-tracking system was used to analyse where their attention was focused. Two groups were formed: one with notifications enabled, the other in aeroplane mode. The results show the impact of notifications on driver alertness:
- Drivers with notifications enabled spend 6 minutes per hour looking away from the road.
- On average, it takes them 13 seconds to process a notification. At 130 km/h, that means travelling 500 metres with their eyes fixed elsewhere.
- The risk of an accident is doubled.
The key role of simulators in prevention
The strength of this experiment lies in the tool used: the driving simulator. By faithfully reproducing traffic conditions while enabling precise monitoring of eye movements and reactions, it provides an ideal testing ground. The replay mode, integrated into Develter simulators, also allows for the analysis of errors, reaction times and trajectory deviations, providing researchers with valuable material to refine their findings. More broadly, this type of approach reveals the relevance of simulators in the analysis of road behaviour. In road safety, objective data is often lacking. Thanks to simulation, it becomes possible to quantify risky behaviour, visualise errors invisible to the naked eye and raise awareness among drivers without putting them in danger.
A necessary awareness
This study is accompanied by a national campaign led by Assurance Prévention to raise awareness about the dangers of distractions while driving.
* Scientific study conducted by Assurance Prévention between 13 and 19 May 2025 by the Calyxis risk expertise centre using Develter Innovation simulators with 24 volunteer subjects who are regular drivers and smartphone users.