title: Decisions and actions of distracted drivers at the onset of yellow lights.
abstract: Driving on an approach to a signalized intersection while distracted is relatively risky, as potential vehicular conflicts and resulting angle collisions tend to be relatively more severe compared to other locations. Given the prevalence and importance of this particular scenario, the objective of this study was to examine the decisions and actions of distracted drivers during the onset of yellow lights. Driving simulator data were obtained from a sample of 69 drivers under baseline and handheld cell phone conditions at the University of Iowa - National Advanced Driving Simulator. Explanatory variables included age, gender, cell phone use, distance to stop-line, and speed. Although there is extensive research on drivers' responses to yellow traffic signals, the examinations have been conducted from a traditional regression-based approach, which do not necessary provide the underlying relations and patterns among the sampled data. In this paper, we exploit the benefits of both classical statistical inference and data mining techniques to identify the a priori relationships among main effects, non-linearities, and interaction effects. Results suggest that the probability of yellow light running increases with the increase in driving speed at the onset of yellow. Both young (18-25 years) and middle-aged (30-45 years) drivers reveal reduced propensity for yellow light running whilst distracted across the entire speed range, exhibiting possible risk compensation during this critical driving situation. The propensity for yellow light running for both distracted male and female older (50-60 years) drivers is significantly higher. Driver experience captured by age interacts with distraction, resulting in their combined effect having slower physiological response and being distracted particularly risky.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS-Q), and Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Washington, United States; Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Engineering Faculty, and Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, United States. Electronic address: m1.haque@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Md Mazharul
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS-Q), and Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Washington, United States; Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Engineering Faculty, and Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, United States. Electronic address: amanda.raven@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Amanda D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ohlhauser
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS-Q), and Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Washington, United States; Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Engineering Faculty, and Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, United States. Electronic address: simon.washington@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS-Q), and Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Washington, United States; Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Science and Engineering Faculty, and Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety (CARRS-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Australia; Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, United States. Electronic address: linda@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: Linda Ng
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D040421:Cell Phone; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003657:Decision Making; D003663:Decision Trees; D000071826:Distracted Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Distracted driving; Driver behavior; Mobile phone; Motion-based driving simulator; Risk compensation; Yellow light