The risk of a safety-critical event associated with mobile device use as a function of driving task demands

Previous research has shown that using a cell phone while driving is associated with an increased risk of involvement in a Safety-Critical Event (SCE). However, examination of cell phone use by its constituent subtasks revealed that complex subtasks (e.g., texting and dialing) were associated with an increased risk, while talking/listening on a device was not. The current study investigated the risk of involvement in an SCE associated with using a mobile device as a function of driving task demands. Data from Naturalistic Driving Studies (NDSs) involving commercial motor vehicle drivers (CMVDs) and light vehicle drivers (LVDs) were re-analyzed. The NDS datasets were partitioned into low, moderate, and high task demand subsets using criteria from the workload literature. Odds ratios for mobile device use and its subtasks were then computed. In low task demands, only dialing was associated with an increased risk for LVDs. In moderate task demands, cell phone use (collapsed across subtasks) was associated with an increased risk for CMVDs. In this condition, texting and dialing was associated with an increased risk, while talking/listening was not. Furthermore, talking/listening on a hands-free phone, or CB radio, was associated with a decreased risk. In high task demands, cell phone use (collapsed across subtasks) was associated with a decreased risk for both CMVDs and LVDs. However, cell phone use in this condition primarily consisted of talking/listening, which on its own was associated with a decreased risk. Overall, the risk related to talking/listening on a mobile device was not found to increase in the three driving task demand conditions examined. Furthermore, unlike LVDs, CMVDs’ mobile device use was lowest in high task demands, suggesting that CMVDs may regulate their mobile device use differently from LVDs as the driving task demands vary.

• Record URL:
  https://document.chalmers.se/download?docid=462321501
• Corporate Authors:

  Chalmers University of Technology. SAFER Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Fitch, Gregory M
  • Hanowski, Richard J
• Conference:
  • 2nd International conference on driver distraction and inattention
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 15
• Monograph Title: 2nd International conference on driver distraction and inattention (DDI2011)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distraction; Drivers; Driving; Stress (Psychology); Telephone
• Uncontrolled Terms: Use
• ITRD Terms: 2237: Distraction; 1772: Driver; 1855: Driving (veh); 2234: Mental load; 2234: Stress level; 390: Telephone; 9084: Use
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01556763
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Files: ITRD, VTI
• Created Date: Mar 12 2015 10:15AM