Assessing the Impact of Smartphone Usage while Driving in Work Zones

The use of smartphones has been increasing over the last decade. The increase of smartphone usage by drivers is particularly concerning in highway work zones when operations and maintenance activities are being performed. This research aims to investigate the impact of using smartphone applications, such as a global positioning system (GPS), when driving through a work zone. Initially, a survey was conducted to evaluate drivers’ understanding of the typical components of a work zone and their preferences regarding safe operation conditions in a temporary traffic control setting. Afterward, 24 subjects were selected to participate in the study using the driving simulator at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. The scenarios had three different workspaces located at the left lane, right lane, and right shoulder. Furthermore, they had the presence of an inattentive worker invading the traffic space. The standard deviation of lateral position and mean speed were obtained in four different locations along the work zone. The results showed that at least 16.7% of subjects encroached the workspace while using an active GPS when the work zone was located in the right lane with the exit ramp closed. Also, the results demonstrated that 67% of the subjects avoided impacting the worker by performing an evasive maneuver.

• Dataset URL:
  https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/HZPXW2
• Record URL:
  http://safersim.nads-sc.uiowa.edu/final_reports/UPR 1 Y1_Final Report.pdf
• 
• Dataset URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42478
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42278
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Supporting datasets available at: https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/HZPXW2; https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42478
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

  Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying
  Mayaguez, Puerto Rico  United States 

  Safety Research Using Simulation University Transportation Center (SaferSim)

  University of Iowa
  Iowa City, IA  United States  52242

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Valdés Díaz, Didier M
  • 0000-0003-1915-3464
  • Lopez del Puerto, Carla
  • 0000-0002-0334-7208
  • Ríos, Benjamin Colucci
  • 0000-0002-8857-8442
  • Figueroa Medina, Alberto M
  • 0000-0002-2635-4988
  • Rosario, Ricardo García
  • 0000-0001-5808-6175
  • Torres, Enid Colón
  • 0000-0002-9400-6141
  • Ibarra, María Rojas
  • 0000-0002-8033-3192
  • Canela, Yindhira Taveras
  • 0000-0001-6502-4351
  • López, Ivelisse Ramos
  • 0000-0002-3680-7581
  • Román, Carolyn Arroyo
  • 0000-0002-5763-9396
• Publication Date: 2018-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 73p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Drivers; Driving simulators; Global Positioning System; Highway safety; Human factors; Smartphones; Work zone safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01698918
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747131
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 17 2019 9:20PM