- #Texting while driving versus undistracted driving drivers#
- #Texting while driving versus undistracted driving simulator#
A recent poll by the Pew Research Center revealed that 75% of U.S.
#Texting while driving versus undistracted driving drivers#
One of the most common distractions in which motor vehicle drivers engage is using a cell phone ( NHTSA, 2011). This increase in availability of distractions has most likely attributed to the 30% increase in the number of motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in the United States from 2005 to 2008 related to distraction ( Wilson and Stimpson, 2010). With advancing technology, the number of distractions to which motor vehicle drivers are exposed continues to increase. No significant differences were detected between age groups, suggesting that all drivers, regardless of age, may drive in a manner that impacts safety and traffic flow negatively when distracted.ġ.1 Distracted Driving and Its Impact on Driving Performance
The results indicate that distracted driving, particularly texting, may lead to reduced safety and traffic flow, thus having a negative impact on traffic operations. In turn, more simulated vehicles passed the participant drivers while they were texting or talking on a cell phone than while undistracted. Distraction (in most cases, text messaging) had a significantly negative impact on traffic flow, such that participants exhibited greater fluctuation in speed, changed lanes significantly fewer times, and took longer to complete the scenario. Results revealed that, in general more lane deviations and crashes occurred during texting. A Repeated Measures Multivariate Analysis of Variance was employed to analyze continuous outcome variables and a Generalized Estimate Equation (GEE) poisson model was used to analyze count variables. Both safety and traffic flow related driving outcomes were considered. Participants also completed questionnaires documenting demographics and driving history.
Each drive was designed to represent daytime scenery on a 4 lane divided roadway and included three equal roadway portions representing Levels of Service (LOS) A, C, and E as defined in the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual.
#Texting while driving versus undistracted driving simulator#
Seventy five participants 16 to 25 years of age (split into 2 groups: novice drivers and young adults) drove a STISIM simulator three times, each time with one of three randomly presented distractions. The present study examined the behavior of teens and young adults operating a driving simulator while engaged in various distractions (i.e., cell phone, texting, and undistracted) and driving conditions (i.e., free flow, stable flow, and oversaturation). Studies have documented a link between distracted driving and diminished safety however, an association between distracted driving and traffic congestion has not been investigated in depth.
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