distracted driving review of current needs, efforts and potential strategies

Distracted Driving

Review of Current Needs, Efforts and Potential

Strategies

Prepared ByDavid Anderson, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Blakely Pomietto, M.P.H.

Public Health Specialist

Amr Abdalla, Ph.D.Research and Evaluation Director

Noel Goldberg, M.S.Program Manager

Vonnie Clement, Ph.DResearch Associate

George Mason UniversityCenter for the Advancement of Public Health

Department of Health, Fitness & Recreation ResourcesGraduate School of Education

Fairfax, VA 22030

PurposeExamine the nature and scope of the problem associated with distracted driving

To examine current data, practices, standards, attitudes, and related issues in Virginia and nationwide regarding distracted driving

To identify specific strategies that might be helpful for consideration in Virginia

Rationale

Recent years have seen new challenges in the driving task: roadways are more crowded, time has seemingly become

more precious, and a host of new technologies are now available for use

in automobiles. One technology particularly surrounded by debate is the

cell phone.

Methodology

10 distinct approaches to gather information:

1. Literature Review2. Curriculum and Product Review3. State Leader Interviews4. Key Informant Interviews5. National Survey

Methodology

6. Intercept Interviews

7. Virginia Data and Approaches

8. Self-Assessment and Behavioral Monitoring

9. Focus Groups

10. Stakeholder Discussion

In the Literature…

Rigorous, empirical research into the issue of distracted driving is greatly

lacking, and plagued with limitations.

In research that is available, the language is often different and the operational

definitions of key terms vary from one study to the next.


New technology – telematics and In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVIS) – has begun to

infiltrate the context of driving.

In order to perceive, assimilate, interpret, predict, and respond to the driving

environment, a driver must have his/her full range of attentional resources from which to

draw.


Multitasking results in multiple tasks competing for a driver’s attentional

resources.

Multitasking while driving results in less efficient visual search,slower reaction

times, and fewer and shorter eye fixations.

In the Literature…Recarte & Nunes, 2000When cognitively complex tasks are

performed while driving, the “visual inspection window” decreases between 25-40% horizontally, and 40-60% vertically.

Just, et al., 2001Less cortical brain tissue is able to respond

when 2 cognitively complex tasks are performed simultaneously (as compared to a single task)

Suggests a natural/biological limit on attention?

In the Literature…Cell phone research lacks consensus and

is inconclusive. Research examines different angles and pieces of the problem, but no complete picture.

Studies suggest that hands-free and hand-held cellular phones are equally

as “risky,” and that the magnitude of risk may not be as great as has been

portrayed.

In the Literature…Of 135 bills from 43 states and the District of Columbia:

Scope of Bill: No. of Bills:Prohibit hand-held phones while driving 53

Improve data collection about cell phone involvement in motor vehicle crashes

28

Increase penalties or responsibility of drivers who crash while using cell phones

21

Prohibit school bus drivers using cell phones 9

Restrict or prohibit cell phones use by young drivers 11

Time limits for calls by drivers 4

Prohibit all use of cell phones in cars 9

Prohibit local restrictions on cell phone use in vehicles 4

Prohibits other types of technology use in vehicles 9

Addresses or defines the language “distracted driving” 9

Themes

Findings and Recommendations

Theme 1: Research

Findings:Terminology is inconsistentResearch to this point lacks naturalistic

research, rigorous experimental design and implementation

Limited practicality or compilations of best practices

The extent of the distracted driving problem is not clearly defined, validated, or determined

Theme 1: Research

Findings (cont’d): Increase in attention to data collection It is not clear how specific behaviors affect

driving capacities differently in magnitude or effect

Research is inconclusive regarding the role of cell phones in automobile crashes, whether hand-held or hands-free devices

Theme 1: Research

Recommendations:Concerted efforts should be undertaken to

clearly define distracted drivingClearly defined research studies are

needed to define, validate and determine the extent of distracted driving

Research and evaluation studies to be performed regarding the role of information technology devices with distracted driving should be conducted in real-life conditions

Theme 1: Research

Recommendations (cont’d):Research and evaluation efforts should

incorporate existing sources of informationA range of personnel who have regular

access to the target audiences should be utilized to collect data

Research and evaluation documentation should attend to the range of individual variabilities regarding multitasking and its impact on distracted driving

Findings:Driver education efforts are not attending

well to distracted driving issuesThe general public is not aware of the

magnitude of the impact of distractions with their driving, including actions and consequences, as well as proactive and reactive considerations

Relatively little skills training exists regarding safe multitasking

Theme 2: Education/ Awareness/Training

Findings (cont’d):Current education and awareness efforts

lack substance and directionFew resources (i.e. products and curricula)

exist to assist with addressing distracted driving

The role that cell phones play with distracted driving is the primary focus of media and other coverage of distracted driving


Recommendations:The general public should be educated

about distracted driving issues through public awareness campaigns and similarly appropriate strategies

With any awareness or training efforts, attention should be paid to factors such as perceived severity and perceived susceptibility


Recommendations (cont’d):Educational approaches should include

skills training about appropriate and safe multitasking

Driver education programs, both for novice drivers and with driver improvement programs, should incorporate significant attention to distracted driving issues


Recommendations (cont’d):Driver improvement programs should be

encouraged for the general driving public, with attention to possible incentives for involvement

More employers should identify ways in which they can be involved in addressing distracted driving

The media should be better engaged to help deliver a comprehensive message on distracted driving


Recommendations (cont’d):Young children should be educated on

distracted driving issues so that they can serve as a resource for their parents

Specific groups, such as police, judges, young drivers and older drivers, should be educated and trained about ways they can help address distracted driving


Findings:There appears to be a tendency to seek

legislative approaches to address distracted driving

Research does not support current specific legislative initiatives

Most proposed bills focus on cell phones and fail to pass

Theme 3: Legislation and Policy

Recommendations:Any legislation to be introduced should be

supported by current research and evaluation findings

Better data needs to be collected regarding the specific role played by the use of cellular phones prior to introducing legislation

Legislative and policy approaches are appropriate to encourage education and data collection initiatives


Recommendations (cont’d): Individual worksites should review ways in

which they can promote greater attention to issues surrounding distracted driving

Prior to introducing new legislation, attempts should be made to determine whether current legislation is already sufficient

Multiple aspects of the driver licensing process should incorporate increased attention to distracted driving issues


Findings:Standards, reporting mechanisms, and

training regarding crash investigation and reporting distracted driving (on summons and crash forms) do not meet emerging needs

Law enforcement personnel and highway safety personnel are not sure about how to document the issue of distracted driving

Theme 4: Enforcement

Findings (cont’d):The fact that distracted driving is not an

offense restricts the ability to “cite”The fact that drivers are unwilling to admit

their use of cell phones in crashes, and driving, impairs data collection and enforcement efforts

Current laws that encompass distracted driving need to be enforced

The role of judges can have a great influence on distracted driving issues


Recommendations:Crash reporting and citation forms should

be changed to include attention to distracted driving behaviors

Enforcement efforts in other states should be reviewed


Recommendations (cont’d):Laws that currently exist which encompass

distracted driving behaviors should be enforced

Law enforcement personnel should look for opportunities for “teachable moments” regarding distracted driving


Findings:Driving conditions have changed

significantly in recent years, including greater traffic density and more time spent driving

Conditions surrounding drivers have changed, including greater time constraints (busier schedules) and unclear lines between work and non-work time

Theme 5: Confounding and Social Factors

Findings (cont’d):Significantly more technology is available

for drivers, both inherent in the automobile and available for use in the automobile

Tension exists between issues of individual liberty and safety issues

Drivers do not want to acknowledge cell phone use and its role in automobile crashes, due to what they believe to be the politically correct and economically viable reasons


Recommendations:Advocacy should be undertaken with the

original automobile manufacturers and designers, and manufacturers of “after-market” in-vehicle technologies, to continue to identify ways of making their products safer


Recommendations (cont’d):All technology made available, whether

installed in vehicles or potentially used in vehicles, should include information about how to use it safely

Public discussions and forums should be held to discuss distracted driving issues


Findings:Technology, innovation and availability are

moving much faster than cultural and social “readiness” (with resulting limited etiquette and standards for making safe use of the equipment)

Theme 6: Culture Lag

Findings (cont’d):The discussions and dialog have not yet

been framed appropriatelyCurrent efforts are primarily reactive, rather

than proactive, in nature


Recommendations:Norms and acceptable etiquette for safe

driving practices with regard to distractions should be developed based on what is learned through ongoing public discussions

Emerging technology should be anticipated as strategies identified for implementation regarding distracted driving are discussed and implemented


Recommendations (cont’d):Safety principles should be developed for

in-vehicle information and communication systems to encompass current and potential future devices

A range of groups should be engaged at the local and state levels to discuss ways of assisting the various approaches to be consistent and synergistic


Findings:There is ambiguity about the nature and

extent of distracted driving among a range of groups and audiences (including traffic safety personnel, law enforcement personnel, the public, the media, legislative personnel, judges, the industry)

Theme 7: Lack of Clarity

Findings (cont’d):Police and judges have different views

about the need for more specific legislationDifferent constituency groups have

different perspectives regarding proactive and reactive approaches


Findings (cont’d):There appears to be a lack of appropriate

and inclusive dialogue among key constituency groups regarding distracted driving

When the issue of distracted driving is brought up, there appears to be a focus on cell phones


Recommendations:Efforts that are both research-based and

realistic should be encouraged to help reduce the ambiguity surrounding distracted driving

Ongoing communication should be maintained with a range of key constituencies about new research and new findings regarding distracted driving


Recommendations (cont’d):Media vehicles should be encouraged to

further develop messages about the breadth of distracted driving issues

A range of groups should be convened to discuss their varying perspectives about distracted driving


Findings:Leadership at the national and state levels

appears to be lackingA widespread call for leadership at national

and state levels existsNationally, traffic safety leaders state that

distracted driving is not a priority, particularly when compared with other driving issues (such as DUI or aggressive driving)

Theme 8: Leadership

Findings (cont’d):Leadership should include a multi-pronged

“solution,” acknowledging that no one single approach is sufficient to address the problem

Theme 8: Leadership

Recommendations:Approaches attempting to address

distracted driving should be shared among state and local leadership personnel

The definition of distracted driving, and of safe driving practices, should be made as clear as possible

Oversight and benchmarking should be maintained at the state level regarding distracted driving

Theme 8: Leadership

Recommendations (cont’d):Leadership personnel should acknowledge

the need for a multi-pronged, consistent approach to address distracted driving

Leadership should be as informed and vocal as possible at the state and national levels

The media has an important leadership role in helping address distracted driving

Theme 8: Leadership

Findings:An upper limit on an individual’s cognitive

ability to multitask appears to exist, and seems to be related to the cognitive complexity of the task

The relative relationship between primary and secondary tasks associated with driving is unclear

Theme 9: Human Factors & Behaviors

Findings (cont’d):Many drivers do not see driving as a

complex activityMany drivers do not see the need to

improve or update their driving skills


Recommendations:Drivers should be reached through the

vehicles and mechanisms appropriate to their setting and role

Individuals should be aided in understanding their own individual variability, within the context of safety considerations


Recommendations (cont’d):Those who implement information and

awareness strategies should understand the range of needs of various audiences

A repertoire of packaged media will be helpful in presenting clear, consistent messages

Realistic and workable approaches should be promoted


Distracted DrivingThis report was distributed as Senate Document No. 14, Commonwealth of

Virginia, Richmond, 2002.

The complete report can be found on-line at the CAPH web-site:

www.caph.gmu.edu

distracted driving review of current needs, efforts and potential strategies

Documents

virginia slide

driving task

literature review

potential strategies

driving environment

context of driving

issue of distracted

stakeholder discussion