Driver Compensation: Impairment or Improvement?. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Young, Richard A.
• Other Names: Lee John D. guest-editor.; Boyle Linda Ng guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Human factors. Volume 57:Number 8(2015)
• Page Start: 1334
• Page End: 1338
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: risk assessment -- accidents -- human error -- attentional processes -- cognition -- distractions and interruptions -- dual task -- time sharing -- task switching -- mental workload -- speech user interfaces (sui) -- displays and controls -- interface evaluation -- human-computer interaction -- computer systems -- usability/acceptance measurement and research -- distraction -- surface transportation -- aggressive and risky driving; Human engineering -- Periodicals; 620.82
• DOI: 10.1177/0018720815585053
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0018-7208

Abstract

Strayer et al.'s conclusion that their "cognitive distraction scale" for auditory-vocal tasks indicates "significant impairments to driving" is not supported by their data. Additional analysis demonstrates that slower brake reaction times during auditory-vocal tasks were fully compensated for by longer following distances to the lead car. Naturalistic driving data demonstrate that cellular conversation decreases crash risk, the opposite of the article's assumption. Hence, the scale's internal and external validities for indicating driving impairment are highly questionable.