Distracted Driving

Marlene MarkisonAssociate Administrator

Regional Operations & Program Delivery

Distracted Driving

Types of distraction◦Manual: taking your hands off the wheel◦Visual: taking your eyes off the road◦Cognitive: taking your mind off the road

Any task may cause multiple types of distraction

What is Driver Distraction?

Fatalities in Crashes with Driver Distraction in 2008

Youth is age group with greatest frequency of involvement◦16% of all <20 drivers in fatal crashes

were reported to have been distracted while driving

An estimated 22% of all crash-related injuries involved distraction (General Estimates System)

Fatal Crashes Drivers Fatalities5,331 (16%) 5,501 (11%) 5,870 (16%)

Source: National Center for Statistics and Analysis

Secretary LaHood hosted Summit Fall 2009

▪ U.S. DOT has taken action to ban texting or restrict cell phone use in trains, trucks, and interstate buses

▪ Implement U.S. Presidential Executive Order 13513 “Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving,” 10/1/09–Explore developing a training module for U.S.

government employees–Global promotion of the executive order

Actions Taken

States are passing distracted driving laws

DOT has proposed incentives for States to pass distracted driving laws – Requested $50 million in FY2011

Other Partners Oprah “No Phone Zone Day” – April 30 Allstate X the TXT Focus Driven

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Actions Taken

NHTSA Distraction Research Plan

Improve Understanding Initiate improved police reporting

◦ Summary: Distraction incidence is not consistently reported. This project will look at best practices and improved police reporting.

Expected outcome: Improved training and standards for coding distraction on PARs

Status: Ongoing. Improvements to PARs expected 2012

Improve Understanding Analyze additional crash data

◦ Summary: NHTSA will use it’s National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Study (NMVCCS) to analyze in more detail distraction-related crashes

Expected outcome: Results of this analysis will help to define research to identify countermeasures

Status: Ongoing, with reports due later in 2010

Improve Understanding Continue observational studies

◦ Summary: NHTSA will continue the National Occupant Protection Use Study (NOPUS), which measures cell phone use

Expected outcome: Annual tracking of cell phone use; enhanced data collection

Status: Ongoing, with annual reports

Improve Understanding Publish protocol for the NOPUS cell phone

study◦ Summary: To allow other organizations to collect

similar data, NHTSA will publish the protocol currently used for the NOPUS cell phone study. Expected outcome: Annual tracking of cell phone use; enhanced data collection

Status: Ongoing, with annual reports

Improve Understanding Plan analyses for the Strategic Highway

Research Program (SHRP) ◦ Summary: This naturalistic study will provide a lot

of information on driver behavior; NHTSA is planning the analyses.

Expected outcome: Data analyses will support policy decisions, help identify countermeasures

Status: Ongoing

Improve Understanding Assess use of new technology

◦ Summary: With the rapidly advancing state of technologies, NHTSA needs to review those for infotainment, data collection, and enforcement

Expected outcome: Identification of potential benefits, disbenefits of technology

Status: Ongoing

Improve Understanding Assess cell phone interfaces

◦ Summary: This project will look at drivers’ interactions between three types of phone interfaces: hand-held, hands-free, and integrated

Expected outcome: Identification of potential benefits, disbenefits of technology

Status: Ongoing

Improve Understanding Evaluate distraction from manual entry

tasks◦ Summary: This project will examine the

similarities and differences in driver performance when drivers engage in manual secondary tasks Expected Outcome: estimate of the distraction potential of different manual secondary tasks

Status: Initiated, with completion in 2011

Reduce Workload (Distraction) from Interfaces

Develop test procedures to evaluate in-vehicle and nomadic interfaces◦ Review current Guidelines ◦ Develop distraction and usability metrics ◦ Integrate findings into Guidelines

Reduce Workload (Distraction) from Interfaces

Integrate findings ◦ Phase 1: In-vehicle visual-manual interfaces

Refines current Alliance Guidelines Completion: August 2011

Phase 2: Portable devices Expands scope of current

guidelines Completion: August 2013

Phase 3: Voice interfaces Also expands current scope Completion: August 2014

Keep Drivers Safe Improve crash warning interfaces

◦ Summary: The driver-vehicle interface (DVI) is a critical component. The interface should be tailored to the capabilities of the system as well as to the capabilities and limitations of the driving population. Expected outcome: Evaluation of effectiveness, acceptance of DVI

Status: Ongoing, with completion in 2011

Keep Drivers Safe Quantify benefits of crash warning systems

◦ Summary: To date, crash avoidance technology effectiveness can only be estimated. Long-term changes to behavior (i.e., risk compensation) have not been measured.

Expected outcome: Estimate of safety benefits of systems

Status: Planning stages, with completion in 2013

Keep Drivers Safe Assess distraction monitoring systems

◦ Summary: Monitoring has been shown to increase traffic safety, distraction monitoring is newer but could offer the same benefit.

Expected outcome: A set of testing protocols to evaluate/compare distraction monitoring to estimate benefits

Status: Ongoing, with completion in 2011

Keep Drivers Safe Assess effectiveness of cell phone filters

◦ Summary: NHTSA is planning a research program that would not only verify whether the programs work as designed but investigate whether people will voluntarily use these programs.

Expected outcome: Estimate of effectiveness, willingness to use

Status: In planning, with completion in 2011

Recognize Risks and Consequences

Evaluate laws and high-visibility enforcement◦ Summary: NHTSA is planning to test the high-

visibility enforcement model by applying it in a distracted driving demonstration project in two cities

Expected outcome: preliminary indication of the effectiveness of laws and high visibility enforcement

Status: Ongoing. Improvements to PARs expected 2011

Recognize Risks and Consequences

Develop targeted media message◦ Summary: NHTSA will develop and test new

targeted media messages to support high visibility enforcement demonstration programs

Expected outcome: Support of high-visibility enforcement program, media available to public

Status: Ongoing, with results in 2011

PHONE IN ONE HAND. TICKET IN THE OTHER.

Recognize Risks and Consequences

Draft and publish sample law for use by states◦ Summary: NHTSA developed a model law for use

by states considering a texting ban Expected outcome:

Publication of sample law

Status: Completed

Recognize Risks and Consequences

Develop Driver Distraction Program Resource through World Health Organization◦ Summary: The DOT is working with the U.S. State

Department to provide global leadership and technical assistance regarding driver distraction.

Expected outcome: Adoption of effective policies, programs worldwide to reduce distraction, crashes

Status: Ongoing, with completion in 2011

Recognize Risks and Consequences

Assess potential of education and training programs◦ Summary: This project will assess how well novice

driver training on the risks of multitasking transfer to real driving, and how training programs can increase hazard recognition

Expected outcome: Information will enhance education and training programs Status: Ongoing, with completion in 2011

Distraction.gov