Unpacking the relationship between task complexity and driving risk: Insights from a UK on-road trial

IF 3.2 Q3 TRANSPORTATION

IATSS Research Pub Date : 2025-03-28 DOI:10.1016/j.iatssr.2025.03.003

Evita Papazikou , Rachel Talbot , Laurie Brown , Sally Maynard , Ashleigh Filtness

{"title":"Unpacking the relationship between task complexity and driving risk: Insights from a UK on-road trial","authors":"Evita Papazikou , Rachel Talbot , Laurie Brown , Sally Maynard , Ashleigh Filtness","doi":"10.1016/j.iatssr.2025.03.003","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the intricate relationship between task complexity and driving risk through a comprehensive four-phase on-road trial conducted in the UK. Employing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), the research illuminates the factors influencing task complexity and its association with risk, treating both as latent concepts—unobservable variables in the study. The findings reveal a notable positive correlation between task complexity and risk, particularly concerning the headway indicator. In essence, the study demonstrates that an escalation in task complexity corresponds to an increased level of risk.</div><div>Throughout the four SEM analyses performed across two waves of on-road trials, the time spent in each safety tolerance zone level for headway measurements emerges as a key indicator of the latent construct of risk in all phases. Notably, the variables constituting the latent concept of task complexity—those proven statistically significant—show slight variations across phases. Variables consistently significant across all phases include the number of right Lane Departure Warnings (LDWs) per 30 s and the day of the week.</div><div>The models reveal the feasibility of quantifying the risk-task complexity relationship in real-world driving settings. This study provides insights to inform efforts to mitigate risk exposure through design and training interventions, targeting the most predictive factors linked to task complexity. Driver demographics did not emerge as statistically significant, emphasising the need for a holistic approach to improve road safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47059,"journal":{"name":"IATSS Research","volume":"49 2","pages":"Pages 127-136"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"IATSS Research","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0386111225000123","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"TRANSPORTATION","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study investigates the intricate relationship between task complexity and driving risk through a comprehensive four-phase on-road trial conducted in the UK. Employing Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), the research illuminates the factors influencing task complexity and its association with risk, treating both as latent concepts—unobservable variables in the study. The findings reveal a notable positive correlation between task complexity and risk, particularly concerning the headway indicator. In essence, the study demonstrates that an escalation in task complexity corresponds to an increased level of risk.

Throughout the four SEM analyses performed across two waves of on-road trials, the time spent in each safety tolerance zone level for headway measurements emerges as a key indicator of the latent construct of risk in all phases. Notably, the variables constituting the latent concept of task complexity—those proven statistically significant—show slight variations across phases. Variables consistently significant across all phases include the number of right Lane Departure Warnings (LDWs) per 30 s and the day of the week.

The models reveal the feasibility of quantifying the risk-task complexity relationship in real-world driving settings. This study provides insights to inform efforts to mitigate risk exposure through design and training interventions, targeting the most predictive factors linked to task complexity. Driver demographics did not emerge as statistically significant, emphasising the need for a holistic approach to improve road safety.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

IATSS Research TRANSPORTATION-

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

6.20%

发文量

审稿时长

42 weeks

期刊介绍： First published in 1977 as an international journal sponsored by the International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences, IATSS Research has contributed to the dissemination of interdisciplinary wisdom on ideal mobility, particularly in Asia. IATSS Research is an international refereed journal providing a platform for the exchange of scientific findings on transportation and safety across a wide range of academic fields, with particular emphasis on the links between scientific findings and practice in society and cultural contexts. IATSS Research welcomes submission of original research articles and reviews that satisfy the following conditions: 1.Relevant to transportation and safety, and the multiple impacts of transportation systems on security, human health, and the environment. 2.Contains important policy and practical implications based on scientific evidence in the applicable academic field. In addition to welcoming general submissions, IATSS Research occasionally plans and publishes special feature sections and special issues composed of invited articles addressing specific topics.