01025625

Component

This study develops a procedure for quantitatively estimating cognitive distraction without involving any visual diversions in order to examine the impact of non-visual distractions on driving. Both laboratory and track experiments are conducted. In the laboratory experiment, the mental capacities (measured in bits/sec) for three arithmetic tasks are estimated for each subject using the functional relation between the reaction time and the number of alternatives in choice reaction tasks through a subsidiary task method. The spare capacities are found to correlate significantly with the measures of speed control and physiological load during a lane change negotiation on a test track. Eighteen subjects participated in a two-part experiment. Laboratory experiment results show that the reaction time and the amounts of information are positively correlated, implying that the arithmetic tasks increase the subject's mental capacities. In the track experiment, it is observed that the arithmetic tasks significantly affect lateral acceleration, speed before entering the lane change area, reaction time, and accuracy. There is a marked gender difference in lateral acceleration, speed before entering the lane change area, speed during lane change, speed of leaving the lane change area, and reaction time. A significant difference in the speed before entering the lane change area, speed during lane change, speed of leaving the lane change area, and accuracy is found among different age groups.

01020180

06-1385

English

14p

2006

Transportation Research Board 85th Annual Meeting

CD-ROM

Figures (3) ; References (12) ; Tables (3)

Auditory perception; Distraction; Driving; Lane changing; Reaction time; Testing

Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2006 Paper #06-1385

BTRIS, TRIS, TRB

Mar 3 2006 10:40AM