Concentration problems
How dangerous are concentration problems behind the wheel?
Every driver discovers now and again that he cannot remember anything about what just happened. Everybody also now and again has moments of looking at something, but not actually seeing anything. If this is not caused by fatigue, they are called moments of concentration loss.
Concentration loss can occur because the driver is thinking about other matters besides the driving task. However, it can also happen because the brain activity decreases not as the result of fatigue, but due to, for example, monotonous surroundings.
Concentration problems lead to a clear reduction in driving skills. The driver makes more errors, reacts slower, notices things late or not at all, and if he/she brakes it's often later and with more force.
It is not known how often crashes happen in the
For more details:
Fact sheet Concentration problems behind the wheel (pdf)
Measures
What can be done about concentration problems?
There is not much point in forbidding drivers to think about other matters while driving. It is however possible to inform them and advise them not to drive if they can't keep their minds on the job.
Making the driving task 'more lively' can prevent a drop in attention. This can for instance be done by bringing more variety to long stretches of straight, flat roads. Rumble strips in the longitudinal direction can prevent the inattentive driver going off the road.
In the more distant future it may perhaps be possible to use special detection equipment to warning drivers about low attention intensity. This will probably not be the case for warning about thinking about other things.
Fact sheet Concentration problems behind the wheel (pdf)
References
(SWOV reports in Dutch have a summary in English)
Brouwer, W.H. (2002). Attention and driving; A cognitive neuropsychological approach. In: Leclercq, M. & Zimmermann, P. (eds.), Applied neuropsychology of attention; Theory, diagnosis and rehabilitation. Psychology Press,
Dingus, T.A., Klauer, S.G,. Neale, V.L., Petersen, A., Lee, S.E., Sudweeks, J., Perez, M.A., Hankey, J., Ramsey, D., Gupta, S., Bucher, C., Doerzaph, Z.R., Jermeland, J. & Knipling, R.R. (2006). The 100-car naturalistic driving study, phase II; Results of the 100-car field experiment. DOT HS 810593. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA,
Gaillard, A.W.W. (2005). Concentration; An instrument to augment cognition. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on augmented Cognition,
Harbluk, J.L., Noy, Y.I. & Eizenman, M. (2002). The impact of cognitive distraction on driver visual behaviour and vehicle control. Transport Canada, Montreal/Quebec.
Karrer, K., Briest, S., Vöhringer-Kuhnt, T., Baumgarten, T. & Schleir, R. (2005). Driving without awareness. In: Underwood, G. (eds.), Traffic & transport psychology; Theory and application. Elsevier,
Martens, M.H. & Brouwer, R.T.F. (2006). Aandacht en interne afleiding in het verkeer: een rijsimulatorstudie. TNO-DV 2006 C292. TNO Defensie en Veiligheid, Soesterberg.
McEvoy, S.P., Stevenson, M.R. & Woodward, M. (2006). The impact of driver distraction on road safety; Results from a representative survey in two Australian states. In: Injury Prevention, vol. 12, nr. 4, p. 242-247.
Recarte, M.A. & Nunes, L.M. (2003). Mental workload while driving; Effects on visual search, discrimination and decision making. In: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, vol. 9, nr. 2, p. 119-137.
Stutts, J.C., Reinfurt, D.W., Staplin, L. & Rodgman, E.A. (2001). The role of driver distraction in traffic crashes. American Automobile Association AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety,
SWOV (2006a). Use of mobile phone while driving SWOV-Factsheet. SWOV, Leidschendam.
SWOV (2006b). Fatigue in traffic; Causes and effects SWOV-Factsheet. SWOV, Leidschendam.
Vaa, T. (2003). Impairment, diseases, age and their relative risks of accident involvement; Results from meta-analysis. Deliverable R1.1 to project IMMORTAL (Impaired Motorists, Methods of Roadside Testing and Assessment for Licensing). University of Leeds, Leeds.
Vlakveld, W.P., Aarts, L.T. & Mesken, J. (2006). Concentratieproblemen achter het stuur; Een beknopte literatuurstudie. D-2005-5. SWOV, Leidschendam.
Vlakveld, W.P., Wesemann, P., Devillers, E., Elvik, R. & Veisten, K. (2005). Detailed Cost-Benefit Analysis of Potential Impairment Countermeasures. Deliverable P.2 to project IMMORTAL (Impaired Motorists, Methods of Roadside Testing and Assessment for Licensing). SWOV, Leidschendam