There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
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.