Measuring Distraction: Methods & Techniques

DISCUSSION ISSUES/TOPICS

Methods, Measures & Tools

• How can driver distraction be safely and rigorously studied in normal driving? How valid are studies that use test tracks, simulators, or laboratory methods?
• What measures (dependent variables) are meaningful indices of driver distraction? How do these relate to roadway safety outcomes?
• What technologies (e.g., physiological monitoring), devices (e.g., eye trackers), or analytic techniques (e.g., steering control inputs) can be used to capture measures of distraction?
• Are there good models that allow you to predict the distracting effects or crash risks associated with a particular distractor?
• What, if any, mechanisms are needed to aid in the investigation of technology related crashes and what tools are needed to support these efforts?

• What are the important unanswered questions relating to the scientific measurement of driver distraction? Where should research resources be directed?

Content Available In Each Topic Area

Paper

Comment

Ask the Expert

Poll

Methods, Measures & Tools
	Association Between Cellular-Telephone Calls and Motor Vehicle Collisions   5/18/00 10:36:46 AM Authors:   Redelmeier, D. A. & Tibshirani, R. J.. View Entire Paper Abstract An epidemiologic method was used to study whether using a cellular telephone while driving increases the risk of a motor vehicle collision. We studied 699 drivers who had cellular telephones and who were involved in motor vehicle collisions resulting in substantial property damage but no personal injury. Each person’s cellular-telephone calls on the day of the collision and during the previous week were analyzed through the use of detailed billing records. A total of 26,798 cellular-telephone calls were made during the 14-month study period. The risk of a collision when using a cellular telephone was four times higher than the risk when a cellular telephone was not being used. The relative risk was similar for drivers who differed in personal characteristics such as age and driving experience; calls close to the time of the collision were particularly hazardous; and units that allowed the hands to be free offered no safety advantage over hand-held units. Thirty-nine percent of the drivers called emergency services after the collision, suggesting that having a cellular telephone may have had advantages in the aftermath of an event. The use of cellular telephones in motor vehicles is associated with a quadrupling of the risk of a collision during the brief period of a call. Decisions about regulation of such telephones, however, need to take into account the benefits of the technology and the role of individual responsibility.   Measuring Driver Visual Distraction with a Peripheral Detection Task   5/18/00 11:12:37 AM   A Technical Platform for Driver Inattention Research   5/18/00 1:34:17 PM   The Development of a Design Evaluation Tool and Model of Attention Demand   5/18/00 1:34:25 PM   Divided Attention Ability of Young and Older Drivers   5/30/00 1:12:17 PM   Driver Workload Assessment of Route Guidance System Destination Entry While Driving: A Test Track Study   5/30/00 5:41:52 PM   Proposed Driver Workload Metrics and Methods Project   5/31/00 5:09:07 PM   Measuring distraction: the Peripheral Detection Task   6/1/00 11:58:18 AM   Need a way to track collisions where Cellular is being used.   7/5/00 2:52:06 PM   Some states do collect this data   7/6/00 9:03:20 AM   2nd and 3rd degree causes   7/8/00 7:27:54 PM   NHTSA data-base   7/9/00 8:23:25 PM   Can slow speeds cause accidents?   7/10/00 12:16:31 AM   distracting dolphins   7/12/00 11:20:43 AM   Cellular Phone Turns   7/12/00 1:36:14 PM   Cellular Phone Turns   7/12/00 1:37:15 PM   Please Explain (see full question below)   7/14/00 10:06:46 AM   Why not use horse blinders   7/18/00 3:49:28 PM   Driver responsability   7/18/00 4:30:21 PM   Measuring and Taxing the Social Costs of Distracted Drivers   7/18/00 4:32:06 PM   Accidents   7/18/00 6:20:24 PM   Driver testing   7/18/00 6:27:38 PM   Nip it in the Bud   7/18/00 8:16:16 PM   Drunk Driving Analogy   7/19/00 8:42:44 AM   Promising research direction   7/19/00 11:15:13 AM   Cell phones receiving undue criticism   7/19/00 12:04:04 PM   Responsible Drivers Need Help!   7/20/00 7:51:11 PM   Cellular Phone Turns   7/20/00 11:44:02 PM   Punishment to meet the crime   7/20/00 11:54:56 PM   Nip it in the ?????   7/21/00 12:11:20 AM   Drunk driving analogy II   7/21/00 12:20:41 AM   Promises promises   7/21/00 12:26:37 AM   Marge needs help!   7/21/00 12:34:59 AM   Reasonable assumptions   7/21/00 12:48:35 AM   Distractions   7/21/00 11:56:23 PM   Daytime Running Lights   7/26/00 7:13:04 AM   Moderator Comments and Questions   7/28/00 7:28:28 AM   Slow speed or relative speed?   7/30/00 3:59:16 PM   Criticism long overdue   7/31/00 2:35:08 AM   Primary task of driving   7/31/00 7:49:23 PM   In evaluating the safety impacts of in-vehicle technologies, what are appropriate baseline or comparative tasks?   8/1/00 1:05:43 PM   What about using specific non-technology tasks as baselines to evaluate safety risks?   8/2/00 3:04:48 PM   In your opinion, what is the single most important measure for understanding driver distraction? Why?   8/7/00 8:05:29 AM   Research article on driver distraction from RoSPA   8/8/00 5:46:27 PM   comment to 'nip it in the bud'   8/8/00 5:55:08 PM   Where is the reference from the RoSPA?   8/9/00 11:28:20 AM   Mr. Murray, please   8/9/00 2:03:41 PM   I have that reference   8/9/00 2:56:15 PM   driver distraction and driver workload: not the same thing   8/9/00 3:53:52 PM
Research Needs
	7   1