Gambling-related distraction, fatigue and concerns about another person’s gambling can affect driving, according to research discussed during a Project EDWARD webinar.
The First Friday discussion, held on 6 November, examined the potential road safety implications of gambling harm, including its impact on drivers and those affected by someone else’s gambling.
Chaired by Project EDWARD founder James Luckhurst, the webinar featured Dr Leanne Savigar-Shaw, Associate Professor in Policing at Staffordshire University, and John Gilham, Trustee and Systems Lead at Gambling Harm UK.
Dr Savigar-Shaw and Professor Gemma Briggs of the Open University conducted a UK-wide YouGov survey of 6,570 people, including 5,639 driving licence holders.
The findings showed that 94% of licence holders said gambling had not affected their driving. However, six per cent – 339 drivers – reported consequences they associated with gambling or thoughts about gambling.
These included gambling-related fatigue (2%), while inappropriate speeds, reduced focus, risk-taking, near misses and collisions were each reported by 1%.
A further 3% said concerns about a friend’s or family member’s gambling had affected their driving.
Dr Savigar-Shaw said road risk could arise from factors beyond directly gambling or using a mobile phone behind the wheel.
“It may come from thoughts about the process, emotional state and fatigue – and not necessarily personal gambling,” she said.
The webinar also referenced Canadian research which found high-risk gamblers were almost twice as likely to suffer a road traffic injury as a driver.
Supporting drivers and employers
John Gilham described how driving his son to hospital after learning he was contemplating suicide left him with “no focus” behind the wheel.
He said the greatest range of gambling-related harm could lie among people whose gambling did not reach a clinical threshold.
The speakers stressed that the research did not prove gambling causes collisions, but highlighted the potential effects of distraction, fatigue and anxiety on driving.
Practical responses discussed included publicly funded campaign assets from Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership, gambling-blocking software and education programmes from Drive Commander, and calls for employers to include gambling within workplace wellbeing policies.
Gilham said managers should look for changes in sleep, mood, attendance or concentration and ask empathetic, open questions rather than attempting to diagnose gambling problems.
Anyone too tired to drive safely should not drive, whatever the underlying cause.
Gambling Harm UK provides free workplace resources, including a chief executive pledge and manager guidance, and is developing a funding bid for further research into how gambling features in reported incidents.
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