Long Distracted Driving

8/8/2019 Long Distracted Driving

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Distracted DrivingReview of Current Needs,

Efforts and PotentialStrategies


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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.D

Research Associate

George Mason University

Center for the Advancement of Public Health

Department of Health, Fitness & Recreation Resources

Graduate School of Education

Fairfax, VA 22030


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Purpose

Examine 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


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Rationale

Recent years have seen new challenges

in the driving task: roadways are more

crowded, time has seemingly becomemore precious, and a host of new

technologies are now available for use

in automobiles. One technology

particularly surrounded by debate is the

cell phone.


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Methodology

10 distinct approaches to gatherinformation:

1. Literature Review

2. Curriculum and Product Review

3. State Leader Interviews

4. Key Informant Interviews

5. National Survey


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Methodology

6. Intercept Interviews

7. Virginia Data and Approaches

8. Self-Assessment and Behavioral

Monitoring

9. Focus Groups

10. Stakeholder Discussion


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In the Literature

Rigorous, empirical research into theissue of distracted driving is greatly

lacking, and plagued with limitations.

In research that is available, the language

is often different and the operationaldefinitions of key terms vary from onestudy to the next.


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In the Literature

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 fullrange of attentional resources from which to

draw.


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In the Literature

Multitasking results in multiple tasks

competing for a drivers attentional

resources.

Multitasking while driving results in less

efficient visual search,slower reactiontimes, and fewer and shorter eye

fixations.


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In the Literature

Recarte & Nunes, 2000

When cognitively complex tasks areperformed while driving, the visual inspection

window decreases between 25-40%horizontally, and 40-60% vertically.

Just, et al., 2001

Less cortical brain tissue is able to respond

when 2 cognitively complex tasks areperformed simultaneously (as compared to asingle task)

Suggests a natural/biological limit on

attention?


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In the Literature

Cell phone research lacks consensus andis inconclusive. Research examines

different angles and pieces of the

problem, but no complete picture.

Studies suggestthat hands-free and

hand-held cellular phones are equallyas risky, and that the magnitude of riskmay not be as great as has been

portrayed.


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In the Literature

Of 135 bills from 43 states and the District of Columbia:Scope ofBill: N o.ofBills:

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


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Themes

Findings and

Recommendations


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Theme 1: Research

Findings:

Terminology is inconsistent

Research 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


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Theme 1: Research

Findings (contd):

Increase in attention to data collection

It is not clear how specific behaviors affectdriving 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


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Theme 1: Research

Recommendations:

Concerted efforts should be undertaken to

clearly define distracted driving

Clearly defined research studies are

needed to define, validate and determine

the extent of distracted driving

Research and evaluation studies to beperformed regarding the role of information

technology devices with distracted driving

should be conducted in real-life conditions


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Theme 1: Research

Recommendations (contd):

Research and evaluation efforts should

incorporate existing sources of information

A range of personnel who have regular

access to the target audiences should be

utilized to collect data

Research and evaluation documentationshould attend to the range of individual

variabilities regarding multitasking and its

impact on distracted driving


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Findings:

Driver education efforts are not attending

well to distracted driving issues

The general public is not aware of the

magnitude of the impact of distractions with

their driving, including actions andconsequences, as well as proactive and

reactive considerations

Relatively little skills training exists

regarding safe multitasking

Theme 2: Education/

Awareness/Training


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Findings (contd):

Current education and awareness efforts

lack substance and direction

Few 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

Theme 2: Education/

Awareness/Training


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Recommendations:

The general public should be educated

about distracted driving issues throughpublic 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

Theme 2: Education/

Awareness/Training


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Educational approaches should include

skills training about appropriate and safemultitasking

Driver education programs, both for novice

drivers and with driver improvement

programs, should incorporate significant

attention to distracted driving issues

Theme 2: Education/

Awareness/Training


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Driver improvement programs should be

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

More employers should identify ways in

which they can be involved in addressingdistracted driving

The media should be better engaged tohelp deliver a comprehensive message ondistracted driving

Theme 2: Education/

Awareness/Training


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Young children should be educated ondistracted 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 beeducated and trained about ways they can

help address distracted driving

Theme 2: Education/

Awareness/Training


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Findings:

There appears to be a tendency to seek

legislative approaches to addressdistracted driving

Research does not support current specific

legislative initiatives

Most proposed bills focus on cell phonesand fail to pass

Theme 3: Legislation andPolicy


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Recommendations:

Any legislation to be introduced should besupported by current research and

evaluation findings Better data needs to be collected regarding

the specific role played by the use ofcellular phones prior to introducing

legislation Legislative and policy approaches are

appropriate to encourage education anddata collection initiatives



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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



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Findings:

Standards, reporting mechanisms, and

training regarding crash investigation andreporting distracted driving (on summons

and crash forms) do not meet emerging

needs

Law enforcement personnel and highwaysafety personnel are not sure about how to

document the issue of distracted driving

Theme 4: Enforcement


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Findings (contd):

The fact that distracted driving is not anoffense restricts the ability to cite

The fact that drivers are unwilling to admittheir use of cell phones in crashes, anddriving, impairs data collection andenforcement efforts

Current laws that encompass distracteddriving need to be enforced

The role of judges can have a greatinfluence on distracted driving issues



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Recommendations:

Crash reporting and citation forms should

be changed to include attention todistracted driving behaviors

Enforcement efforts in other states should

be reviewed



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Laws that currently exist which encompass

distracted driving behaviors should beenforced

Law enforcement personnel should look for

opportunities for teachable moments

regarding distracted driving



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Findings:

Driving conditions have changed

significantly in recent years, includinggreater 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


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Recommendations:

Advocacy should be undertaken with theoriginal automobile manufacturers and

designers, and manufacturers of after-

market in-vehicle technologies, to

continue to identify ways of making theirproducts safer


Social Factors


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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 beheld to discuss distracted driving issues


Social Factors


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Findings:

Technology, innovation and availability are

moving much faster than cultural andsocial readiness (with resulting limited

etiquette and standards for making safe

use of the equipment)

Theme 6: Culture Lag


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Findings (contd):

The discussions and dialog have not yet

been framed appropriately

Current efforts are primarily reactive, rather

than proactive, in nature



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Recommendations:

Norms and acceptable etiquette for safe

driving practices with regard to distractionsshould be developed based on what is

learned through ongoing public discussions

Emerging technology should be anticipated

as strategies identified for implementationregarding distracted driving are discussed

and implemented



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Safety principles should be developed for

in-vehicle information and communicationsystems to encompass current andpotential future devices

A range of groups should be engaged at

the local and state levels to discuss waysof assisting the various approaches to beconsistent and synergistic



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Findings:

There is ambiguity about the nature and

extent of distracted driving among a rangeof groups and audiences (including traffic

safety personnel, law enforcement

personnel, the public, the media, legislative

personnel, judges, the industry)

Theme 7: LackofClarity


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Findings (contd):

Police and judges have different views

about the need for more specific legislation

Different constituency groups have

different perspectives regarding proactive

and reactive approaches



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Findings (contd):

There appears to be a lack of appropriate

and inclusive dialogue among keyconstituency groups regarding distracted

driving

When the issue of distracted driving is

brought up, there appears to be a focus on

cell phones



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Recommendations:

Efforts that are both research-based and

realistic should be encouraged to helpreduce 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



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Media vehicles should be encouraged to

further develop messages about thebreadth of distracted driving issues

A range of groups should be convened to

discuss their varying perspectives about

distracted driving



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Findings:

Leadership at the national and state levels

appears to be lackingA widespread call for leadership at national

and state levels exists

Nationally, traffic safety leaders state that

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

Theme 8: Leadership


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Findings (contd):

Leadership should include a multi-pronged

solution, acknowledging that no onesingle approach is sufficient to address the

problem

Theme 8: Leadership


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Recommendations:

Approaches attempting to addressdistracted driving should be shared amongstate and local leadership personnel

The definition of distracted driving, and ofsafe driving practices, should be made asclear as possible

Oversight and benchmarking should bemaintained at the state level regardingdistracted driving

Theme 8: Leadership


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Leadership personnel should acknowledge

the need for a multi-pronged, consistentapproach 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


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Findings:

An upper limit on an individuals cognitive

ability to multitask appears to exist, andseems 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


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Findings (contd):

Many drivers do not see driving as a

complex activity

Many drivers do not see the need to

improve or update their driving skills


Behaviors


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Recommendations:

Drivers should be reached through the

vehicles and mechanisms appropriate totheir setting and role

Individuals should be aided in

understanding their own individual

variability, within the context of safety

considerations


Behaviors


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Those who implement information and

awareness strategies should understandthe 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


Behaviors


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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

Documents

Long Distracted Driving