DISTRACTED DRIVING
RESEARCH

The following is a limited bibliography of research reports concerning distracted driving. It is meant to provide a brief introduction to the current state of research on the issue. The U.S. Department of Transportation does not endorse the research listed here, nor does non-DOT research represent the official position of DOT, its agencies, or its employees.

On December 8, 2011, NHTSA released a new measure of fatalities related to distracted driving, called “distraction-affected crashes.” NHTSA’s adoption of the new “distraction-affected crash” measure for the 2010 FARS data is one step in a continuing effort to focus on driver distraction and separate it from other issues. The new measure is designed to focus more narrowly on crashes in which a driver was most likely to have been distracted. NHTSA will continue to look for improved data sources.

Overview

• "Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving," NHTSA 2012
  This policy document from NHTSA contains distracted driving statistics and outlines concrete steps stakeholders around the country can take to reduce the risk posed by distracted driving.
• "Distracted Driving 2009," NHTSA 2009
  This research note from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis discusses distracted driving statistics from 2009.

Data on Electronic Device Use While Driving

• "Young Drivers Report the Highest Level of Phone Involvement in Crash or Near-Crash Incidences." NHTSA, 2012
  This research note extracts information from the December 2011 survey about cell phone use and distracted driving for young drivers.
• "Young Drivers Report the Highest Level of Phone Involvement in Crash or Near-Crash Incidences." NHTSA 2012
  This research note extracts information from the December 2011 survey about cell phone use and distracted driving for young drivers.
• "Distraction Effects of In-Vehicle Tasks Requiring Number and Text Entry Using Auto Alliance's Principle 2.1B Verification Procedure," NHTSA 2012
  This experiment was conducted to assess the distraction potential of secondary tasks using the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers' Principle 2.1B verification procedure. Secondary tasks included radio tuning, destination entry, 10-digit dialing, dialing via contact selection, and text messaging were performed using the original equipment systems of a 2010 Toyota Prius V and an iPhone 3GS smart phone.
• "National Phone Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors" NHTSA 2011
  This survey was a nationally representative telephone survey of 6,002 drivers 18 and older from all 50 States and the District of Columbia. The goal was to assess current attitudes and self-reported behaviors about distracted driving. Also assessed were perceptions of safety, cell phone use, laws, fines, and enforcement.
• "National Distracted Driving Telephone Survey Finds Most Drivers Answer the Call, Hold the Phone, and Continue to Drive," NHTSA 2011
  This report summarizes the National Phone Survey on Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behaviors conducted in 2011.
• "Distraction Effects of Manual Number and Text Entry While Driving," NHTSA 2011
  This experiment was conducted to assess the distraction potential of secondary tasks performed using in-vehicle systems (radio tuning, destination entry) and portable phones (10-digit dialing, selecting contacts, text messaging) while driving.
• "Developing a Test to Measure Distraction Potential of In-Vehicle Information System Tasks in Production Vehicles," NHTSA 2011
  Three experiments were conducted to assess a test of distraction potential for in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) and portable devices used while driving. The test used a low-fidelity (PC-based) driving simulator; sensors record drivers' control inputs in stationary production vehicles. Participants performed car-following and target detection together with secondary tasks.
• "Driver Electronic Device Use in 2010," NHTSA 2011
  This research note summarizes distracted driving data collected by observing drivers in 2011.
• "Adults and Cell Phone Distractions," Pew Research Center 2010
  This report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project indicates widespread texting or talking on a cell phone while driving among adults.
• "Driver Electronic Device Use in 2009," NHTSA 2010
  This research note summarizes distracted driving data collected by observing drivers in 2009.
• "Driver Electronic Device Use in 2008," NHTSA 2009
  This research note summarizes distracted driving data collected by observing drivers in 2008.
• "Teens Talk" Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Status Report, 2008
  This report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project indicates widespread texting or talking on a cell phone while driving among teens.
• "Teens and Distracted Driving" Pew Research Center, 2009
  This report indicates that, in the absence of enforcement, few teens obey the North Carolina texting while driving ban.

Prevention and Enforcement

• "Four High-Visibility Enforcement Demonstration Waves in Connecticut and New York Reduce Hand-Held Phone Use," NHTSA 2011
  This follow-up research note corroborates an earlier report that high-visibility enforcement can reduce hand-held phone use behind the wheel.
• "High Visibility Enforcement Demonstration Programs in Connecticut and New York Reduce Hand-Held Phone Use," NHTSA 2010
  This report covers the first two (of four) enforcement waves in NHTSA's pilot study, with early data indicating that high-visibility enforcement can reduce hand-held phone use behind the wheel.
• "Curbing Distracted Driving: 2010 Survey of State Safety Programs," GHSA 2010
  This report from the Governors' Highway Safety Association includes a state-by-state look at efforts to reduce distracted driving.

Measurement Methodology and Meta-Studies

• "Overview of Results From the International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group Survey on Distracted Driving Data Collection and Reporting," NHTSA 2010
  This survey of the international crash data collection community identifies methods for collecting and reporting on crashes involving distracted driving.
• "Driver Electronic Device Use Observation Protocol," NHTSA 2010
  This NHTSA Research Note describes the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) and how it observes and reports on driver cell phone use.

Distraction and Crash Risk

• "Distracted Driving and Driver, Roadway, and Environmental Factors" NHTSA, 2010
  This study analyzes two types of inattention-related factors: a driver's interaction with in-vehicle sources of distraction and cognitive activities such as thinking about personal, financial, or family problems.
• "Crash Factors in Intersection-Related Crashes: an On-Scene Perspective," NHTSA 2010
  This report analyzes the association of the immediate reasons for a critical pre-crash event with other intersection crash factors.
• "Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations," FMCSA 2009
  This study is a detailed investigation of commercial motor vehicle driver distraction.
• "A Decrease in Brain Activation Associated with Driving When Listening to Someone Speak" Carnegie Mellon University 2008
  This study shows that listening to a conversation draws significant mental resources away from driving and undermines driving performance, even when the conversation does not require holding a phone.
• "The Effects of Text Messaging on Young Novice Driver Performance," (Australia) Monash University Accident Research Centre 2006
  This study provides evidence that sending or receiving text messages has a detrimental effect on safe driving among inexperienced drivers.
• "Examining the Impact of Cell Phone Conversations on Driving" (synthesis of findings among 23 studies), Human Factors 2006
  This study indicates that engaging in cell phone conversations slows driver reaction times to external events.
• "The 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study - Results of the 100-Car Field Experiment," NHTSA 2006
  Observations recorded by in-vehicle instrumentation show that almost 80% of all crashes and 65% of all near-crashes involved the driver looking away from the roadway just prior to the event.
• "A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver," Human Factors 2006
  A study from the University of Utah indicates that the impairment associated with using a cell phone while driving can be as profound as that associated with drunk driving.
• "Profiles in Driver Distraction: Effects of Cell Phone Conversations on Younger and Older Drivers," Human Factors 2004
  This study from the University of Utah indicates that when both younger and older drivers used cell phones, their reactions were 18% slower and there was a two-fold increase in the number of rear-end collisions.
• "Passenger and Cell-Phone Conversations in Simulated Driving" Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 2004
  This study demonstrates that the number of driving errors is higher when conversing on a cell phone than when conversing with a passenger.
• "Wireless Telephones and the Risk of Road Crashes" (Canada) ScienceDirect Accident Analysis & Prevention 2003
  This report indicates that the relative risk of accidents is higher for users of cell phones than for non-users; as driver cell-use increases, accident risk also increases.
• "Cell Phone-Induced Failures of Visual Attention During Simulated Driving," Journal of Experimental Psychology 2003
  This study finds that hands-free cell phone conversations created "inattention blindness" and impaired driver reactions to vehicles braking in front of them.