|
Papers, polls, Q&A items, and comments on this page are oriented to topics and issues associated with the methods and techniques used to measure driver distraction. Feel free to post comments on issues outlined below, or in response to papers, polls, and/or questions submitted to our expert panel. These discussions are meant to emphasize questions of scientific rigor for research and evaluation efforts. A moderator has been assigned to periodically synthesize comments, keep discussions focused and moving, emphasize key points, and offer additional insights into related issues.
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?
Research Needs
- 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
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
Michael Rudmin
Private Citizen
There are probably two valid measurements of distraction, both related to accident rates. The first is user distraction. Essentially, if accidents and near-accidents tend to happen around a particular driver, it may be assumed that the driver is too easily distracted. The second is location distraction. Essentially, certain interchanges are more likely to cause accidents when a driver is using a cell phone. It occurs to me that it might be valid to give each cell phone its own index (U) for user distraction, and to have for each cell an index (L) for location distraction. For each incident, indexes gain according to 1% of the previous value, and decay exponentially over time. Then, using variables x and y empirically derived to minimize accident rates, and an empirically derived cutoff limit C, build a protection into each car phone or other distraction device. U^x + L^y < C or the phone cuts off. That way, (1) drivers will tend to use their phones only in areas where they are safe with the phone (2) drivers who are not safe with the phone will have to find a spot where they can use it, and then stop there to carry out their conversation. Of course, there is the question: how do you tally accident rates for nearby cell phones and areas? That, too is simple. Set two numbers, one for "accident report" and another for "near accident report." If a person dials the "accident report" number, the cells triangulate the position and report it to the police, but also send out a "tally" signal. All phones in that cell that were in use over the previous minute (not counting the report) gain a tally point to their index (which can decay exponentially with time.) The "near accident report" number is similar, but does not notify the police. This technology could be implemented without change to the phones themselves, since each phone has its own codes. Thus, data can all be stored on databases with the carriers.
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 |
|