The impact of auditory advanced driver distraction warning devices on the behaviour of middle-aged drivers along urban roads

Driver distraction is one of the main causes of road crashes worldwide, with a relevant number of collisions, some fatal, especially among middle-aged drivers. In 2019, the European Regulation EU 2019/2144 mandated the installation of Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) devices on all new vehicles by 2026. After the confirmation of its effectiveness in motorway driving, this driving simulation study evaluated the effectiveness of an auditory ADDW device in mitigating distraction on urban roads. Thirty middle-aged participants (fifteen females, aged between 25 and 35) were asked to read and respond to text messages on their cell phones, regardless of the device alert. They all drove (i) without being distracted (baseline condition), (ii) while distracted, and (iii) while distracted but supported by the ADDW device. Each participant faced three scenarios: (i) interaction with pedestrians at a mid-block crosswalk, (ii) driving in free-flow conditions on a dual-carriageway arterial, and (iii) driving behind another vehicle.

The results revealed a degradation in driving performance and worsening safety conditions. In contrast to what was demonstrated for motorway driving, the ADDW device did not produce significant improvements in driving performance along urban roads. For drivers who continue to text while driving, no positive effect of the ADDW auditory device was observed. Unlike the motorway scenario, the urban environment produces a variety of stimuli that render distracted driving dangerous irrespective of the use of an ADDW.