An important factor that makes driving
dangerous
Hunger
pangs are common for most of us, especially after toiling all day over a
computer stuck behind a desk job. That moment when your stomach suddenly feels
hollow and starts to gurgle tends to strike right when you’re in middle of the
infamous Manila traffic on the way home. And when we’re hungry and craving, we
do things we don’t normally and rationally do – like getting ‘hangry,’ for
example. Considering the amount of time we spend on the road, it’s not too
farfetched to say driving hungry is one of the reasons why we experience
terrible and exhausting trips.
This
is one of the things that Shell found out in the Shell Driving Experiment, a
groundbreaking worldwide study that uses cutting-edge emotional intelligence
technology, ChatBots, mobile apps, and weather and traffic information to
uncover drivers’ food and drink preferences and driving performance during
everyday rides. Shell worked with experts from Goldsmiths, University of
London, to monitor the data points from over 2,000 participants worldwide in
order to measure the driver performance score of each country and learn about
the different factors that affect their performance.
The
results of the study were revealed during the ‘What Drives You’ launch event on
February 27, which featured interactive installations and a panel of
specialists discussing the research findings. The panelists included Cleary
Ahern, a Doctoral Researcher from Goldsmiths, University of London. Ahern was
then joined by other panelists composed of subject matter experts including
motoring enthusiast and actor Jericho Rosales, champion racer Michele Bumagarner,
and health and diet guru Nadine Tengco.
Hunger drops driving performance
and concentration
After
Philippine participants across three key areas – Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao
– logged in more than 1,700 journeys and 26,592 responses to the ChatBot about
their physiological state of hunger, the Shell Driving Experiment uncovered several
interesting findings about Filipino drivers.
The
experiment showed that feeling hungry or thirsty can impact your driving
performance, showing that drivers who crave food or hydration don’t perform as
well on the road. This decreases the smoothness of a driver’s journey, negatively
correlating to a smoother trip score.
Tengco,
a famous health guru, shared her two cents on the results. She said, “Just like
how you need to fuel up your car before going on a drive, our body needs our
own fill as well. Driving while you’re hungry, especially in this heavy
traffic, can really affect your mood and focus, which can have detrimental
effects to your driving.”
Food for driving
Of
course, the type and the amount of food that one consumes play an important role
on one’s daily energy levels. In fact, did you know that turkey actually makes
you sleepy?
“Food rich in Omega-3 can enhance mood,
relieve stress, and increase alertness. But many other nutrients and flavors
are associated with increased wakefulness and alertness such as nuts, citruses,
and dark chocolates. More than that, staying hydrated is important.” Tengco
said.
The other factors that come into
play
Family
has always played a big part in the lives of Filipinos, and this was also
apparent in the Shell Driving Experiment. Evidence linking the presence of
children and additional passengers in the car to better driving performance was
consistent throughout the study.
The
Shell Driving Experiment also confirmed that stress is a constant emotion felt by
Filipinos on the road. Destination is also another factor, with findings
showing that drivers who are on their way to work are more stressed than those
who are on the road for other purposes.
The
study even busted the myth that driving performance is dictated by gender. The
biggest indicator of how well a person performs behind the wheel is, in fact,
their personality type – which was revealed as the two personality archetypes
of the Modern Man and the Gamma Woman.
Giving importance to every ride
For
over a hundred years, Pilipinas Shell has gone the extra mile for Filipino
motorists – from taking care of their vehicles with the help of Shell quality
fuels and services, to fueling drivers with delicious and convenient meals and
beverages at Shell Select and Deli2Go. Shell’s constant pursuit of excellence
for the sake of their customers continues through the Shell Driving Experiment.
“The
Shell Driving Experiment is part of Shell’s efforts to understand the changing
needs of our customers,” shares Anthony Lawrence Yam, Vice President for Retail
at PIlipinas Shell. “This helps us create better products and services, such as
developing new fuels like Shell V-Power with DYNAFLEX Technology and the
expansion of our non-fuel offers at Shell Select, which are relevant in
improving the driving experience of Filipinos. At the end of the day, our goal
is making life’s journeys better for every Filipino on the road.”
By providing quality fuel products and
services to motorists around the world, Shell gained its foothold as a global
leader in power and energy. It pioneers next generation technology in
developing new sources for a reliable energy mix, producing smarter products as
well as promoting smarter use. Shell strives to build smarter infrastructure
and provide energy efficient engineering solutions that promote clean and
efficient transport and sustainable mobility.
Through
finding out and understanding how Filipinos feel and what really matters most
for Filipinos, Shell continues its mission to allow men and women to go well on
the road, wherever they want to go.
