Technology and teen drivers

doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2007.02.008

Journal of Safety Research

Volume 38, Issue 2, 2007, Pages 203-213

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2007.02.008 Get rights and content

Abstract

The rapid evolution of computing, communication, and sensor technology is likely to affect young drivers more than others. The distraction potential of infotainment technology stresses the same vulnerabilities that already lead young drivers to crash more frequently than other drivers. Cell phones, text messaging, MP3 players, and other nomadic devices all present a threat because young drivers may lack the spare attentional capacity for vehicle control and the ability to anticipate and manage hazards. Moreover, young drivers are likely to be the first and most aggressive users of new technology. Fortunately, emerging technology can also support safe driving. Electronic stability control, collision avoidance systems, intelligent speed adaptation, and vehicle tracking systems can all help mitigate the threats to young drivers. However, technology alone is unlikely to make young drivers safer. One promising approach to tailoring technology to teen drivers is to extend proven methods for enhancing young driver safety. The success of graduated drivers license programs (GDL) and the impressive safety benefit of supervised driving suggest ways of tailoring technology to the needs of young drivers. To anticipate the effects of technology on teen driving it may be useful to draw an analogy between the effects of passengers and the effects of technology. Technology can act as a teen passenger and undermine safety or it can act as an adult passenger and enhance safety. Impact on industry: Rapidly developing technology may have particularly large effects on teen drivers. To maximize the positive effects and minimize the negative effects will require a broad range of industries to work together. Ideally, vehicle manufacturers would work with infotainment providers, insurance companies, and policy makers to craft new technologies so that they accommodate the needs of young drivers. Without such collaboration young drivers will face even greater challenges to their safety as new technologies emerge.

Section snippets

Magnitude and mechanisms of the young driver safety problem

The overrepresentation of young drivers in car crashes makes driving the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 4 and 34 (Subramanian, 2005). On a per-mile basis, young drivers aged 16 to 19 are overrepresented in severe crashes by a factor of 10, compared with adult drivers aged 40 to 50 (McKnight & McKnight, 2003). The crash rate is particularly high in the first six months after licensure (Mayhew, Simpson, & Pak, 2003). Fig. 1 shows that crash involvement dramatically declines

Infotainment technology trends and the vulnerabilities of young drivers

Infotainment systems include a broad array of devices that enable drivers to perform tasks unrelated to driving, such as making telephone calls, watching videos, managing e-mail, sending and reading instant messages, and selecting and listening to music. Even relatively mundane infotainment devices, such as the car radio, are changing substantially with the introduction of satellite radio and MP3 music players, like the iPod. As of 2007, approximately 70% of new cars will include the capability

Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to enhance young driver safety

Although technology could distract drivers and undermine safety, it also has substantial potential to improve driving safety. Increasingly, cars are being equipped with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that include GPS and navigation systems, sensor suites, and control systems that can help people drive safely. These systems may also use biometric technology to recognize individual drivers and develop a history of driving performance to assess momentary and long-term changes in the

Conclusion

Rapidly evolving technology has enormous potential to affect driving safety — both positively and negatively. The factors that cause young drivers to crash more frequently than other drivers amplify the positive and negative potential of new technology. Young drivers are particularly vulnerable to distractions posed by infotainment systems, but could benefit tremendously from driver support systems. Extending proven approaches to enhance teen driving — GDL and supervised driving — represents

Acknowledgements

This manuscript was greatly improved by the comments of many people at the National Safety Council's Teen Driving Symposium Dan McGehee, Mireille Raby, Monica Lees, and Josh Hoffman. In addition, Teresa Lopes at the University of Iowa Public Policy Center aided with technical editing.

John D. Lee received a B.A. in psychology and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, in 1987 and 1988, respectively, and a M.S. in industrial engineering and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in 1989 and 1992, respectively. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, affiliated with the National Advanced Driving Simulator, and the Director of the Cognitive Systems

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