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Measuring Distraction: Methods & Techniques

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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  
comments
  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

comments   Need a way to track collisions where Cellular is being used.   7/5/00 2:52:06 PM

comments   Some states do collect this data   7/6/00 9:03:20 AM

comments   2nd and 3rd degree causes   7/8/00 7:27:54 PM

comments   NHTSA data-base   7/9/00 8:23:25 PM

comments   Can slow speeds cause accidents?   7/10/00 12:16:31 AM

comments   distracting dolphins   7/12/00 11:20:43 AM

comments   Cellular Phone Turns   7/12/00 1:36:14 PM
Tanja   McCallum
Private Citizen

Refering to: Association Between Cellular-Telephone Calls and Motor Vehicle Collisions

The number of times I have been driving behind an individual who was holding a phone to their ear while making a left or right turn is alarming. More often than not the person attempts to make the turn with one hand, and at a very slow speed (annoying other drivers and tying up traffic in the intersection) - despite the slow speed they almost always drive their car into the oncoming traffic lane (too wide a turn) while others swerve to miss them. When horns are honked in anger they don't so much as turn their heads? Do people care that they are putting lives at risk? How can you drive safely with one hand, while putting your concentration into the conversation you are having? And if you're not putting concentration into the conversation - why take the call at all? Have we gone so far that phone calls come before personal safety? Would you use a table saw while on the phone? I think not. We need laws to protect our loved ones - the facts are already here!



comments   Cellular Phone Turns   7/12/00 1:37:15 PM

   Please Explain (see full question below)   7/14/00 10:06:46 AM

comments   Why not use horse blinders   7/18/00 3:49:28 PM

comments   Driver responsability   7/18/00 4:30:21 PM

comments   Measuring and Taxing the Social Costs of Distracted Drivers   7/18/00 4:32:06 PM

comments   Accidents   7/18/00 6:20:24 PM

comments   Driver testing   7/18/00 6:27:38 PM

comments   Nip it in the Bud   7/18/00 8:16:16 PM

comments   Drunk Driving Analogy   7/19/00 8:42:44 AM

comments   Promising research direction   7/19/00 11:15:13 AM

comments   Cell phones receiving undue criticism   7/19/00 12:04:04 PM

comments   Responsible Drivers Need Help!   7/20/00 7:51:11 PM

comments   Cellular Phone Turns   7/20/00 11:44:02 PM

comments   Punishment to meet the crime   7/20/00 11:54:56 PM

comments   Nip it in the ?????   7/21/00 12:11:20 AM

comments   Drunk driving analogy II   7/21/00 12:20:41 AM

comments   Promises promises   7/21/00 12:26:37 AM

comments   Marge needs help!   7/21/00 12:34:59 AM

comments   Reasonable assumptions   7/21/00 12:48:35 AM

comments   Distractions   7/21/00 11:56:23 PM

comments   Daytime Running Lights   7/26/00 7:13:04 AM

comments   Moderator Comments and Questions   7/28/00 7:28:28 AM

comments   Slow speed or relative speed?   7/30/00 3:59:16 PM

comments   Criticism long overdue   7/31/00 2:35:08 AM

comments   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

comments   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

comments   Research article on driver distraction from RoSPA   8/8/00 5:46:27 PM

comments   comment to 'nip it in the bud'   8/8/00 5:55:08 PM

comments   Where is the reference from the RoSPA?   8/9/00 11:28:20 AM

comments   Mr. Murray, please   8/9/00 2:03:41 PM

comments   I have that reference   8/9/00 2:56:15 PM

comments   driver distraction and driver workload: not the same thing   8/9/00 3:53:52 PM
Research Needs
             7comments   1