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

Ralph, Finian; Large, David R.; Burnett, Gary; Lang, Alexandra; Morris, Andrew

Abstract

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.

Citation

Ralph, F., Large, D. R., Burnett, G., Lang, A., & Morris, A. (2022). U can’t touch this! Face touching behaviour whilst driving: implications for health, hygiene and human factors. Ergonomics, 65(7), 943-959. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2021.2004241

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 4, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 22, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 4, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2022
• Journal: Ergonomics
• Print ISSN: 0014-0139
• Electronic ISSN: 1366-5847
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 65
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 943-959
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2021.2004241
• Keywords: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation; Human Factors and Ergonomics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6611459
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00140139.2021.2004241