Combining roadside interviews and on-road observation for assessing prevalence of driver inattention. (April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sagberg, Fridulv; Johansson, Ole J.; Sundfør, Hanne B.
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 62(2019)
• Page Start: 305
• Page End: 315
• Publication Date: 2019-04
• Subjects: Automobile drivers -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Automobile driving -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 629.283019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2019.01.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8478

Abstract

Highlights: We combined on-road observations from a driving car and roadside interviews. Using a handheld cellphone was the most frequently observed secondary activity. Observed prevalence of secondary activities was lower for drivers with passengers. Interviews revealed high prevalence of cognitive distraction, e.g., daydreaming. Based on both methods, inattention prevalence was estimated at 24% of driving time. Abstract: Inattention among car drivers on a motorway section with two lanes in each direction was investigated by a combination of two different methodological approaches. First, an observer in a driving car in the non-passing (right) lane observed 1337 passing drivers; i.e., all drivers passing during the observation period. At a service area about midway along the section, 273 drivers were interviewed during the same period. The observations showed that 14% of drivers were involved in some secondary activity, with handheld mobile telephone use (which is prohibited) being the most frequent activity (5%). Involvement in secondary activities were far more frequent among drivers without passengers, with 15%, compared to 9% for drivers with passengers. For the latter, interaction with passengers was observed for 6%. The interviews made a useful supplement to roadside observations, providing prevalence estimates also for non-observable activities and states like daydreaming and listening to radio or music. Concerning passenger interaction, duration data were uncertain because many drivers tended to report total driving time with passengers rather than time interacting with them. Consequently, prevalence estimates for passenger interaction as reported in interviews were uncertain, and we therefore estimated this prevalence from observation data only. Total prevalence of secondary activities and internal states presumably implying inattention was estimated at about 24% of total driving time when based on both methods combined.