Teens' distracted driving behavior: Prevalence and predictors. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gershon, Pnina; Zhu, Chunming; Klauer, Sheila G.; Dingus, Tom; Simons-Morton, Bruce
• Is Part Of: Journal of safety research. Volume 63(2017:Nov.)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 161
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Distracted driving -- Naturalistic study -- Teen drivers -- Secondary task engagement -- Risk; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Safety -- Periodicals; Accidents, Occupational -- Periodicals; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; Accidents -- Prévention -- Périodiques; Accidents -- Prevention; Industrial safety; Periodicals; 363.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2017.10.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4375

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Teen drivers' over-involvement in crashes has been attributed to a variety of factors, including distracted driving. With the rapid development of in-vehicle systems and portable electronic devices, the burden associated with distracted driving is expected to increase. The current study identifies predictors of secondary task engagement among teenage drivers and provides basis for interventions to reduce distracted driving behavior. We described the prevalence of secondary tasks by type and driving conditions and evaluated the associations between the prevalence of secondary task engagement, driving conditions, and selected psychosocial factors. Methods: The private vehicles of 83 newly-licensed teenage drivers were equipped with Data Acquisition Systems (DAS), which documented driving performance measures, including secondary task engagement and driving environment characteristics. Surveys administered at licensure provided psychosocial measures. Results: Overall, teens engaged in a potentially distracting secondary task in 58% of sampled road clips. The most prevalent types of secondary tasks were interaction with a passenger, talking/singing (no passenger), external distraction, and texting/dialing the cell phone. Secondary task engagement was more prevalent among those with primary vehicle access and when driving alone. Social norms, friends' risky driving behaviors, and parental limitations were significantly associated with secondary task prevalence. In contrast, environmental attributes, including lighting and road surface conditions, were not associated with teens' engagement in secondary tasks. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that teens engaged in secondary tasks frequently and poorly regulate their driving behavior relative to environmental conditions. Practical applications: Peer and parent influences on secondary task engagement provide valuable objectives for countermeasures to reduce distracted driving among teenage drivers. Highlights: The associations between driving environment, psychosocial characteristics of the driver and secondary task were assessed. Teens engaged in secondary tasks frequently while poorly regulating their driving behavior based on environmental conditions. Higher parental-imposed driving limitations were associated with lower prevalence of secondary task engagement. Social norms favoring risky driving behavior was associated with higher prevalence of secondary task engagement. High susceptibility to peer influence was associated with higher prevalence of secondary task engagement.