The Effects of In-Vehicle Distraction on Driver Response During a Crucial Driving Maneuver

Abstract

This article reports the effects of the presence of an in-vehicle distracter (a telephone, number-matching task) on driver reaction to a light-controlled stop. 10 volunteer drivers were asked to perform 60 repeated circuits of a closed-loop test track, in which each circuit represented an experimental trial. At the beginning of each trial, the driver was presented with a unique 7-digit memory set. In addition to the memory requirement, the first digit of the memory set was used during driving in the distracter task. On 30 circuits, neither the distracter nor the traffic control device was activated. On 10 circuits, only the distracter task was presented. On another 10 circuits, a standard traffic signal changed from green to red, requiring an immediate stop. On 10 circuits, both the distracter and the traffic control device were activated together. Drivers were asked to recall the entire 7-digit string at the end of every trial. The sequence was repeated at a slow and a faster speed. The order of circuits was randomized. Results are discussed in terms of erosion of a safety margin in the presence of in-vehicle sources of distraction that are expected to increase significantly in the face of unregulated proliferation of Intelligent Transportation System in-vehicle devices. provided by L. Tijerina, Commentary on 'The Effects of In-Vehicle Distraction on Driver Response During a Crucial Driving Maneuver', and a reply by P.A. Hancock and T. Ranney is presented.