Distracted Driving
What is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving can be defined as any activity that diverts attention away from activities critical for safe driving. Driving distractions can be categorized into three main areas: visual, manual, and cognitive.
- Visual distractions are objects or activities that take the driver’s visual attention away from the road and driving environment.
- Manual distractions are objects or activities that take a driver’s hands off the wheel.
- Cognitive distraction takes a driver’s mind off the road.
Effects of Distracted Driving
The effects of distracted driving on driver performance include the following:
- Increased time that eyes are off road
- Increased reaction time to hazards
- Greater speed variability and slower mean speed
- Increased lane deviations and lane departures
- Closer car following
Human Factors Investigations of Distracted Driving
The role that distraction may have played in a vehicle crash is a complex issue that requires experts with specialized knowledge and expertise in the area of human factors. A human factors expert uses a combination of accident analysis techniques, knowledge of human behavior and performance, and experience investigating vehicle collisions to determine the relevant factors in a crash. Human factors experts analyze issues such as whether a reasonably attentive driver would have been able to avoid the collision, whether a driver was distracted (i.e., exhibiting the known effects of distracted driving), and whether distraction was a cause of the collision.