Driving With the Wandering Mind: The Effect That Mind-Wandering Has on Driving Performance. Yanko, M. R. & Spalek, T. M. Human Factors, 56(2):260–269, March, 2014. Publisher: SAGE Publications Inc
Driving With the Wandering Mind: The Effect That Mind-Wandering Has on Driving Performance [link]Paper  doi  abstract   bibtex   
Objective:The principal objective of the present work was to examine the effects of mind state (mind-wandering vs. on-task) on driving performance in a high-fidelity driving simulator.Background:Mind-wandering is thought to interfere with goal-directed thought. It is likely, then, that when driving, mind-wandering might lead to impairments in critical aspects of driving performance. In two experiments, we assess the extent to which mind-wandering interferes with responsiveness to sudden events, mean velocity, and headway distance.Method:Using a car-following procedure in a high-fidelity driving simulator, participants were probed at random times to indicate whether they were on-task at that moment or mind-wandering. The dependent measures were analyzed based on the participant?s response to the probe.Results:Compared to when on-task, when mind-wandering participants showed longer response times to sudden events, drove at a higher velocity, and maintained a shorter headway distance.Conclusion:Collectively, these findings indicate that mind-wandering affects a broad range of driving responses and may therefore lead to higher crash risk.Application:The results suggest that situations that are likely associated with mind-wandering (e.g., route familiarity) can impair driving performance.
@article{yanko_driving_2014,
	title = {Driving {With} the {Wandering} {Mind}: {The} {Effect} {That} {Mind}-{Wandering} {Has} on {Driving} {Performance}},
	volume = {56},
	issn = {0018-7208},
	shorttitle = {Driving {With} the {Wandering} {Mind}},
	url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720813495280},
	doi = {10.1177/0018720813495280},
	abstract = {Objective:The principal objective of the present work was to examine the effects of mind state (mind-wandering vs. on-task) on driving performance in a high-fidelity driving simulator.Background:Mind-wandering is thought to interfere with goal-directed thought. It is likely, then, that when driving, mind-wandering might lead to impairments in critical aspects of driving performance. In two experiments, we assess the extent to which mind-wandering interferes with responsiveness to sudden events, mean velocity, and headway distance.Method:Using a car-following procedure in a high-fidelity driving simulator, participants were probed at random times to indicate whether they were on-task at that moment or mind-wandering. The dependent measures were analyzed based on the participant?s response to the probe.Results:Compared to when on-task, when mind-wandering participants showed longer response times to sudden events, drove at a higher velocity, and maintained a shorter headway distance.Conclusion:Collectively, these findings indicate that mind-wandering affects a broad range of driving responses and may therefore lead to higher crash risk.Application:The results suggest that situations that are likely associated with mind-wandering (e.g., route familiarity) can impair driving performance.},
	language = {en},
	number = {2},
	urldate = {2021-11-14},
	journal = {Human Factors},
	author = {Yanko, Matthew R. and Spalek, Thomas M.},
	month = mar,
	year = {2014},
	note = {Publisher: SAGE Publications Inc},
	keywords = {attention, distraction, driving performance, high-fidelity driving simulator, mind-wandering},
	pages = {260--269},
}

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