01122477

Component

Numerous studies have documented the negative effects of distractions on driving performance, but are drivers aware of these effects and do they accurately perceive their distracted driving ability? Previous empirical work suggests that drivers’ perceptions are not well-calibrated to actual dual-task decrements; however, these studies only assessed drivers’ perceptions during a single session. The current study evaluated how drivers’ estimates of distracted driving performance changed with increased exposure relative to their actual performance. Twelve young drivers drove an instrumented van around a closed-loop test track while performing several driving tasks with and without a secondary task over 4 experimental sessions. Driving performance and secondary task performance measures were collected along with drivers’ estimates of performance on the various tasks during each session. A significant decrease in the dual-task decrement observed in secondary task with greater exposure was found; however, dual-task decrements in driving performance were not seen in most measures. In general, drivers’ estimated dual-task decrements tended to be greater than their actual dual-task decrements, and this was especially true in the stop light task where performance estimates became increasingly inaccurate with greater exposure. The impact of under and overestimating distracted driving ability on driving behavior and safety are discussed along with the possible role of feedback in improving the accuracy of estimates.

01120148

09-3251

English

14p

2009

Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting

DVD

Figures (1) ; Maps (1) ; Photos (1) ; References (22) ; Tables (2)

Age; Automobile drivers; Behavior; Distraction; Driving; Driving tests; Highway safety; Multitasking; Perception; Self evaluation; Task analysis

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

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2009 Paper #09-3251

TRIS, TRB

Jan 30 2009 7:40PM