Researchers’ Work from Queensland University of Technology Focuses on Risk Management (Decisions and actions of distracted drivers at the onset of…

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Researchers' Work from Queensland University of Technology Focuses on Risk Management (Decisions and actions of distracted drivers at the onset of yellow lights)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Current study results on Risk Management have been published. According to news reporting originating in Brisbane, Australia, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "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."

Financial supporters for this research include National Science Foundation, US DOT - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the Queensland University of Technology, "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."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "Driver experience captured by age interacts with distraction, resulting in their combined effect having slower physiological response and being distracted particularly risky."

For more information on this research see: Decisions and actions of distracted drivers at the onset of yellow lights. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2016;96():290-299. Accident Analysis and Prevention can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Accident Analysis and Prevention - www.journals.elsevier.com/accident-analysis-and-prevention/)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M.M. Haque, Queensland University of Technology, Fac Sci & Engn, Center Accid Res & Rd Safety CARRS Q & Civil Engn &, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. Additional authors for this research include A.D. Ohlhauser, S. Washington and L.N. Boyle.

Keywords for this news article include: Brisbane, Australia, Australia and New Zealand, Risk Management, Queensland University of Technology.