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Published on: December 18, 2020
Cognitive failures as predictors of driving errors, lapses, and violations
Christine M Wickens1, Maggie E Toplak, David L Wiesenthal
1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada.
Accident; Analysis and Prevention
|May 8, 2008
Summary
Cognitive failures, like alexithymia and attention regulation issues, significantly impact driving behavior, leading to errors and violations. Understanding these cognitive aspects can improve driver training and safety.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Traffic Psychology
- Human Factors
Background:
- Dual-process models offer a framework for understanding cognitive failures in daily activities.
- This approach was novelly applied to analyze driver behavior and its associated errors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if categories of cognitive failure predict driving errors, lapses, and violations.
- To examine the roles of alexithymia (affective information deficit) and override failures (attention regulation, reactivity, impulsivity) in driving behavior.
Main Methods:
- A sample of undergraduates at a large urban university participated in the study.
- Correlational and regression analyses were used to assess the associations between cognitive failures, demographic variables (gender, driving hours), and driving behaviors.
Main Results:
- Override failures showed a significant association with overall driving behavior.
- Attention regulation predicted driving errors, while gender, attention regulation, and impulsivity predicted driving violations.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive failures, particularly those related to attention regulation and impulsivity, are significant predictors of driving errors and violations.
- Findings have implications for driver training, the use of in-car informatics devices, and interventions for individuals with attention or impulsivity issues.
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