Distraction
Distraction is anything that diverts the driver’s attention from the primary tasks of navigating the vehicle and responding to critical events. To put it another way, a distraction is anything that takes your eyes off the road (visual distraction), your mind off the road (cognitive distraction), or your hands off the wheel (manual distraction). So when you think about tasks that can be a driving distraction, you can see that they often fit into more than one category: eating is visual and manual, whereas using a navigation system is all three.
There are two basic components of the distraction safety problem: The attentional demands of the distracting task and the frequency with which drivers choose to multitask. Task demands relate to the amount of resources (visual, cognitive, manual) required to perform the task. The other issue is exposure, which is how often drivers engage in the task. Putting those two concepts together, even an easy task can be a bigger safety problem if the person does the task 50% of their driving time.
Current and previous NHTSA research investigates how distraction impacts driver performance, and develops and evaluated vehicle-based countermeasures to minimize the negative effects.
Agency Plans
- NHTSA Distracted Driving Research Plan - April 2010 [PDF] DOT-HS-811-299
General Distraction Reports
- Distraction Effects of In-Vehicle Tasks Requiring Number and Text Entry Using Auto Alliance’s Principle 2.1B Verification Procedure - February 2012 [PDF] DOT HS 811 571
- Developing a Test to Measure Distraction Potential of In-Vehicle Information System Tasks in Production Vehicles November 2011 [PDF] DOT HS 811 463
- Distraction Effects of Manual Number and Text Entry While Driving August 2011 [PDF] DOT HS 811 510
- An Analysis of Driver Inattention Using a Case-Crossover Approach On 100-Car Data: Final Report May 2010 [PDF] DOT HS 811 334
Measuring Distraction Potential of Operating In-Vehicle Devices - December 2009 [PDF] DOT-HS-811-231 - Driver Distraction Review of Current State of Knowledge - April 2008 [PDF] DOT-HS-810-787
- Driver Strategies for Engaging in Distracting Tasks Using In-Vehicle Technologies. March 2008, DOT HS 810 919
- Characteristics of Voice-Based Interfaces for In-Vehicle Systems and Their Effects on Driving Performance [PDF], March 2007 DOT-HS-810-867
- The Impact of Driver Inattention on Near-Crash/Crash Risk: An Analysis Using the 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study Data (DOT HS 810 594) - April 2006 (also available in HTML format)
- The 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study, Phase II - Results of the 100-Car Field Experiment - April 2006
- An Overview of The 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study and Findings (PDF) - June 2005
- Assessment of Truck Driver Distraction Problem and Research Needs – May 2005
- On-Road Study of Willingness to Engage in Distracting Tasks - March 2005
- Wireless Phone and AutoPC Related Technology: Driver Distraction and Use Effects on the Road (PDF) November 2004, DOT HS 809 752
- The Effects of Voice Technology on Test Track Driving Performance: Implications for Driver Distraction - December 2003
- Volume I: Findings--National Survey of Distracted and Drowsy Driving Attitudes and Behavior - 2002 (also available in PDF format) - March 2003
- In Vehicle Inventory of Technologies: Human Factors Design Characteristics -February 2002
Workload
- Driver Workload Metrics Project: Final Report November 2006
- Driver Workload Metrics Project: Final Report - Appendices November 2006
Wireless Communication
- Traffic Safety Facts - Research Note: An Examination of Driver Distraction as Recorded in NHTSA Databases, September 2009 DOT HS 811 216
- Traffic Safety Facts - Research Note: Driver Electronic Device Use, September 2009 DOT HS 811 184
- "Examination of the Distraction Effects of Wireless Phone Interfaces Using the National Advanced Driving Simulator - Final Report on a Freeway Study" – June 2005
- Hand-Held or Hands-free? The Effects of Wireless Phone Interface Type On Phone Task Performance and Driver Preference - June 2005
- A Bibliography of Research Related to the Use of Wireless Communications Devices From Vehicles - February 2005 (also available in text format)
- Wireless Phone and AutoPC Related Technology: Driver Distraction and Use Effects on the Road [PDF] November 2004. DOT HS 809 752
- Examination of the Distraction Effects of Wireless Phone Interfaces Using the National Advanced Driving Simulator - Preliminary Report on a Freeway Scenario Study"(PDF) - April 2004
- NHTSA Report: Driver Distraction with Wireless Telecommunications and Route Guidance Systems - July 2000
- NHTSA Wireless Communications Report: An Investigation of the Safety Implications of Wireless Communications in Vehicles - November 1997
Research Programs:
Public Forums / Presentations
- DOT Announcement of Technical Workshop March 23, 2012: Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for In-Vehicle Electronic Devices
- DOT Distracted Driving Summit - September 2009
- Driver Distraction: Understanding the Problem, Identifying Solutions - January 2005 (also available in text format)
- Summary of NHTSA Driver Distraction Expert Working Group Meetings - October 2000
- Public Meeting and Internet Forum (Summary)
- Public Meeting and Internet Forum (Web Forum)
Additional Information