Driver Distraction: Theory, Effects, and Mitigation (Electronic book text)

This is a practical resource for understanding, preventing, and managing driver distraction. It is estimated that up to 23 percent of crashes and near-crashes are caused by driver distraction, and these figures will likely increase as more and more distractions, both inside and outside the vehicle, compete for driver attention. Driver Distraction: Theory, Effects, and Mitigation gives a comprehensive overview of this issue, outlining the underlying theory of distraction, its effects on driving performance and safety, strategies for mitigating its effects, and directions for future research. It also brings together the wide array of literature on the topic into one, all-inclusive, volume.It includes recommendations for managing distractions in the technological age. This comprehensive volume reviews the full range of distracting activities that occur while driving, and available ergonomic methods, guidelines, and checklists for the measurement and mitigation of driver distraction. It also recommends ways to manage distraction through enhanced data collection and analysis, driver education and training, driver licensing, legislation and enforcement, vehicle design, road design, company policies, and future research. It is beneficial for a broad audience, including: vehicle manufacturers; road transport authorities and safety agencies; traffic and transport engineers; automotive equipment manufacturers and suppliers; company safety managers; standards organizations; and transport safety research agencies.This work comes at a critical time when road safety authorities are just beginning to recognize the importance of driver distraction as a road safety issue. With balanced and practical guidance, it aims to prevent driver distraction from escalating into an even more significant problem.