The effect of driving demands on distraction engagement and glance behaviors: Results from naturalistic data. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Risteska, Martina; Kanaan, Dina; Donmez, Birsen; Winnie Chen, Huei-Yen
• Is Part Of: Safety science. Volume 136(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Distracted driving -- Environmental demand -- Naturalistic driving studies -- NEST dataset -- SHRP2 -- Off-road glances; Industrial accidents -- Periodicals; Accident Prevention -- Periodicals; Safety -- Periodicals; Travail -- Accidents -- Périodiques; 363.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2020.105123
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0925-7535

Abstract

Highlights: Aim: To assess the relation between driving demands and distraction. A naturalistic driving study dataset was used. Environmental visual difficulty reduces distraction engagement and off-path glances. Speed reduces distraction engagement when motor control difficulty is higher. Drivers over 35 have lower rates of off-path glances compared to younger drivers. Abstract: Objective: To understand drivers' engagement in distractions and their visual attention allocation under different driving demands. Background : Although distraction increases crash risk, drivers engage in distractions frequently with no negative consequences, likely in part due to their self-regulating behaviors. Prior research revealed a variety of self-regulating behaviors specifically related to cell-phone engagement, but very limited research has investigated whether and how driving demands affect engagement in distractions in general, particularly within a natural setting rather than in the simulator. Method : We used the Naturalistic Engagement in Secondary Tasks (NEST) dataset, a subset of SHRP2 data, to analyze secondary task engagement and off-path (not in direction of travel) eye glances. In addition to assessing their relation to environmental demand, we also considered driver age and chosen speed. Results : Higher visual difficulty environments (characterized as visually complex and/or with low visibility) were associated with a decreased likelihood of secondary task engagement as well as a decrease in off-path glances, particularly longer ones (>2s). Drivers 35 and older had lower rates of off-path glances compared to younger drivers. An increase in speed was associated with a decrease in the likelihood of task engagement in higher motor control difficulty environments (characterized as poor surface condition and/or curved road) but not in lower ones. Conclusion : Drivers appear to modulate their task engagement and off-path glances based on driving demands. However, given that inopportune short off-path glances can lead to crashes, interventions are still needed to help drivers better modulate their distraction engagement.