U can't touch this! Face touching behaviour whilst driving: implications for health, hygiene and human factors

• Published in: Ergonomics Vol. 65; no. 7; pp. 943 - 959
• Main Authors: Ralph, Finian, Large, David R., Burnett, Gary, Lang, Alexandra, Morris, Andrew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis 03.07.2022; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Cognitive ability; COVID-19; Epidemiology; Face; Face-touching driving COVID-19 hand hygiene self-inoculation infection transmission; Human behavior; Human factors; Hygiene; Inoculation; Pandemics; Video data; Workload
• ISSN: 0014-0139; 1366-5847
• DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2021.2004241

Analysis of thirty-one hours of video-data documenting 36 experienced drivers highlighted the prevalence of face-touching, with 819 contacts identified (mean frequency: 26.4 face touches/hour (FT/h); mean duration: 3.9-seconds). Fewer face-touches occurred in high primary workload conditions (where additional physical/cognitive demands were placed on drivers), compared to low workload (4.4 and 26.1 FT/h, respectively). In 42.5% of touches (or 11.2 FT/h), mucous membrane contact was made, with fingertips (33.1%) and thumbs (35.6%) most commonly employed. Individual behaviours differed (ranging from 5.1 to 90.7 FT/h), but there were no significant differences identified between genders, age-groups or hand used. Results are of relevance from an epidemiological/hygiene perspective within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (and can therefore inform the design of practical solutions and encourage behavioural change to reduce the risk of self-inoculation while driving), but they also help to elucidate how habitual human behaviours are imbricated with the routine accomplishment of tasks. Practitioner summary: The study highlights the propensity of face touching whilst driving through the analysis of on-road video datasets. Results have implications for the design of technological interventions (such as touchless interfaces and driver monitoring systems) and can inform awareness campaigns to reduce the risk of self-inoculation and infection transmission while driving.