Abstract
Driver distraction is a major problem nowadays, contributing to many deaths, injuries, and economic losses. Despite the effort that has been made to minimize these impacts, considering the technological evolution, distraction at the wheel has tended to increase. Not only tech-related tasks but every task that captures a driver’s attention has impacts on road safety. Moreover, driver behavior and characteristics are known to be heterogeneous, leading to a distinct driving performance, which is a challenge in the road safety perspective. This study aimed to capture the effects of drivers’ personal aspects and habits on their distraction behavior. Following a within-subjects approach, a convenience sample of 50 drivers was exposed to three unexpected events reproduced in a driving simulator. Drivers’ reactions were evaluated through three distinct models: a Lognormal Model to make analyze the visual distraction, a Binary Logit Model to explore the adopted type of reaction, and a Parametric Survival Model to study the reaction times. The research outcomes revealed that drivers’ behavior and perceived workload were distinct when they were engaged in specific secondary tasks and for distinct drivers’ personal attributes and habits. Age and type of distraction showed statistical significance regarding the visual behavior. Moreover, reaction times were consistently related to gender, BMI, sleep patterns, speed, habits while driving, and type of distraction. The habit of engaging in secondary tasks while driving resulted in a cumulative better performance.
Highlights
After confirming that all data assumed a normal distribution, a one-way ANOVA was applied for the categorical variables with more than two levels, while the binary variables were analyzed through a t-test
For the analysis of the “eyes-off-road” variable used as a proxy for visual distraction, the group aged between 18 and 25 had a higher percentage of time without looking into the driving scenario, especially when comparing it with the participants with 55 years old or more
Younger people may feel more capable of reacting effectively; their behavior may be less safe as they spend much more time without looking at the road. This is reasonable because younger individuals tend to be more confident about their driving skills, evaluating themselves as having lower levels of workload when engaged in the secondary tasks
Summary
Drivers are responsible for keeping themselves safe and ensuring the safety of every road user. This sense of responsibility has been forgotten, especially with the evolution of technology, and driver inattention still resulting in several deaths, injured people, and strong economic impacts every year [2]. Epidemiological research showed that about 5% to 25% of car crashes are caused by driver distraction [3]. These numbers are even more worrying concerning professional truck drivers, where a much higher estimate, around 70%, has been found. Just in 2015, in the USA, 391,000 people were injured in distraction-affected crashes (16% of the total injuries) [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
