Driver behaviour at the onset of yellow signal: A comparative study of distraction caused by use of a phone and a music player

Abstract

The present study attempts to contribute to the literature by identifying and comparing the effects of two important distractions, i.e., phone conversation and music player operations, on drivers’ stop/cross decisions at the yellow onset. For this purpose, 74 participants performed driving experiments on a simulated urban route with six signalised intersections. Driver distraction, demographics, intersection configurations and driving attributes were considered as independent variables. Additionally, some specific situations (combinations of the different attributes) associated with the stop/cross decision were identified with a decision tree method. A generalised linear mixed model with a logit link function was developed for estimating the probability of crossing an intersection by considering all the main variables and the potential interaction obtained from the decision tree. The results highlighted that the driving speed was positively associated with the crossing probability. Whereas, Time to Stop Line (TSL), type of manoeuvre and the presence of the distractions had a negative influence on the probability. The odds of crossing an intersection were 17% lesser for the music player distraction than the phone conversation. Additionally, six interaction variables provided insights into effects of age, gender and driving experience on drivers’ stop/cross decision in some specific situations.