The Effects of Visual and Cognitive Distractions on Operational and Tactical Driving Behaviors

OBJECTIVE This study tested the effects of two fundamental forms of distraction, including visual-manual and cognitive-audio distraction, with comparison under both operational and tactical driving. Strategic control remains for future study. BACKGROUND Driving is a complex control task involving operational, tactical, and strategic control. Although operational control, such as lead-car following, has been studied, the influence of in-vehicle distractions on higher levels of control, including tactical and strategic, remains unclear. METHOD Two secondary tasks were designed to independently represent visual-manual and cognitive-audio distractions, based on multiple resource theory. Drivers performed operational vehicle control maneuvers (lead-car following) or tactical control maneuvers (passing) along with the distraction tasks in a driving simulator. Response measures included driving performance and visual behavior. RESULTS Results revealed drivers' ability to accommodate either visual or cognitive distractions in following tasks but not in passing. The simultaneous distraction condition led to the greatest decrement in performance. CONCLUSION Findings support the need to assess the impacts of in-vehicle distraction on different levels of driving control. Future study should investigate driver distraction under strategic control.