Distracted Driving

Question 1

What percentage of accidents are caused by distractions?

Answer 1

10-30%.

Question 2

What is meant by controlled processing and automatic processing , in relation to mobile phone use? (Norman and shallice)

Answer 2

Cp - consious , (supervisory)

Ap - takes practice, (contention).

Question 3

What is meant by wickens multiple resource theory?

Answer 3

Three dimensions, performance affected by:

• input (auditory/visual).
• coding (verbal/spatial).
• response (sensory).

Question 4

Driving is seen to be organised on three levels. Identify these levels.

Answer 4

• automatic (skill based).
• tactical (rule based).
• strategic (knowledge based).

Question 5

What percentage of drivers talk on phone whilst driving?

Answer 5

60-70%

Unaware it is hazardous.

Question 6

True or false - hands free phones are safer.

Answer 6

False - appear to make no difference.

Question 7

How does phone use increase risk of accident?

Answer 7

Impairs decision making. 
Diverts attention from visual env. 
Reduce reaction times. 
Conversation on phone is mentally demanding e.g can involve visual imagery. 
Reduces eye movements.

Question 8

True or false - talking to the passenger is more dangerous that leaking on the phone.

Answer 8

False - as passenger is able to alert driver of danger , person on the phone cannot.

Question 9

Change and in-attentional blindness both reflect failure to… (complete sentence).

Answer 9

… detect changes until they receive focused attention.

Question 10

What percentage of phone studies showed significant impairment?

Answer 10

81%.

Question 11

Why do drivers use phones?

Answer 11

Unaware of danger.
‘Self-serving bias’ - think they are better than others.
Accidents are rare, every ‘safe’ trip reinforces their delusion that they are safe.

Question 12

Describe the theory of planned behaviour in relation to phone use.

Answer 12

Perceived benefits - ‘avoid boredom’
Perceived costs - low accident risk.
Perceived acceptability - ‘everyone does it’.

Question 13

Outline solutions to reduce phone use when driving.

Answer 13

• education (awareness)
• enforcement (prosecution)
• engineering (prohibition of aftermarket systems e.g phone systems).

Question 14

What may be designed in the future to reduce accidents caused by phone use?

Answer 14

Driverless cars!

Semi-automatic and fully autonomous cars.