Individual differences during driver secondary task performance: verbal protocol and visual allocation findings.

Full Abstract

This paper reports a study in which visual allocation and verbal reports were recorded to determine individual differences in drivers conducting in-vehicle tasks. Participants drove a simulated route whilst conducting pre-defined tasks using the in-vehicle entertainment system. Tasks of varying complexity were presented to the participants. Licensed (experienced) drivers made significantly more verbal reports relating to road signs and markings, vehicles, scenery in general and vehicle operations; than did unlicensed (novices). No significant difference was found between expert and novice drivers when reporting in-car entertainment system related utterances. Surprising gender differences were also found. Males drove faster, with greater variance, and made more utterances in identified categories. Females were found to make significantly less verbal reports during secondary task performance. The difference in results obtained between expert and novices may imply that novices need to use their attention capacity to focus on the skill of driving, whereas experts through experience, have automated this skill and can use their attention capacity to more effectively during primary tasks. Results suggest that expert drivers are not necessarily experts at undertaking secondary tasks.

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Author information

Author/s: Lansdown, Terry C (TC);

Affiliation: Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK. t.lansdown(-atsign-)hw.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Accident; analysis and prevention (Accid Anal Prev), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Sep; vol 34 (issue 5) : pp 655-62

Dates: Created 2002/09/06; Completed 2003/01/22; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12214960, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Attention
Automobile Driving - psychology
Female
Humans

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