Attention, Distraction, and Crashes in Young Novice Drivers Elizabeth A.
1 2 Walshe ;
Flaura K.
2 Winston ;
Dan
1 Romer
1
Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania; 2 Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Background Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death and injury in adolescents. The risk of being in a fatal crash is 3 times higher in young novice drivers. This has been attributed to: • inexperience • risk-tasking traits and behavior • underdeveloped executive functions How do each of these factors contribute to crash risk in teens?
Measures
Results
• Philadelphia Trajectory Study measures Traits
• Texting & Talking while driving factored with other intentional driving violations on the DBQ.
• Impulsivity • Sensation Seeking • Delay Discounting
Risk Behaviors
Executive Functions
• Substance use • Gambling • Violence • • • •
Correlations • See Table 1 for the correlates of crashes. • Impulsive traits, substance use and other risk behaviors, and other forms of executive function did not correlate with crashes.
Working Memory Inhibition Task switching Sustained attention
Item loadings on Violations (V) and Error (E) factor. Q Question item 1 Ignored speed limits late at night or
• To examine how aberrant driving, risky behaviors and traits, and executive functions relate to crashes in young novice drivers.
V
E
early in the morning? 2 Drove close to a car ahead of you or
n=118 youths were recruited from the longitudinal Philadelphia Trajectory Study
.724
• 30% reported being in at least one crash as a driver (n=25) • 15% had prior citations (n=13) • 2 years driving experience on average Email:
[email protected]
• Increased texting while driving predicted an increased probability of crashes: χ2(1) = 4.67, p = .031, Exp(B) = 1.612
the left passing lane and passed on the right? .815
road while looking at a map or using the controls in the car? 5 Took a chance on going through an
.623
intersection when the light turned red? 6 Drove after consuming alcohol?
n=84 licensed drivers aged 18-20.6 years, M=18.93
Working Memory
-.316**
.627
7 Misjudged the speed of an oncoming
.802
vehicle when passing a car? 8 Failed to check your mirrors before
.471
pulling out of a parking spot or changing lanes? 9 Failed to notice someone stepping out
-
from behind a bus or parked vehicle?
.227* .221*
.237*
Figure 1. Factors predicting crash incidents
Working Memory
1 SD increase in WM reduced probability of a crash by 64%
Crashes
Texting + Driving
1 SD increase in Texting + Driving increased probability of a crash by 62%
Conclusion • People who texting while driving also engage in other intentionally risky driving behaviors. • Both stable attentional abilities (working memory) and susceptibility to distraction (texting) were related to crashes.
Future work should examine working memory capacity as well as behaviors that distract attention away from the road.
References:
10 *Talked on a cell phone while driving?
.758
11 *Answered a text message while
.792
driving?
-
.232*
Impatiently overtaking (DBQ Q3) Distracted driving (DBQ Q4) Texting while driving (TWD: DBQ Q11)
• Poorer WM predicted greater probability of crashes: χ2(1) = 6.88, p = .009, Exp(B) = 1.81
flashed your lights as a signal to go faster or get out of your way?
4 Drove with only “half an eye” on the
Regression • We conducted a stepwise logistic regression controlling for age, sex, IQ and number of years driving
.678
3 Became impatient with a slow driver in .743
Sample
Crashes
Prior citations
• Modified Driving Behavior Questionnaire
Aims
Table 1. Correlates of crashes: all p’s < .033
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Leading causes of death reports, national and regional, 1999–2014. 2. World Health Organization. Global status report on road safety 2015. 3. Romer, D.; Lee, Y.-C.; McDonald, C.C.; Winston, F.K. Adolescence, attention allocation, and driving safety. J. Adolesc. Health 2014, 54, S6–-S15, doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.10.20
Acknowledgements: Laura Betancourt and Kirsten Arena made significant contributions to study design and data collection
