This research aims to assess the impact of using texting, web surfing and navigating applications on driving behavior and road safety in urban environments. The study involved collecting driving data from 36 young adult drivers through a driving simulator experiment, supplemented by a survey to gather participant characteristics and driving profiles. The driving experiment included periods of distraction-free driving and intervals when drivers used Facebook (scrolling through the feed), Google Maps (searching for specific locations), and Facebook Messenger (texting). Data analysis utilized linear and binary logistic mixed models to explore the effects of texting and web surfing on speed and its deviation, headway distance and its deviation, and crash risk. Results indicate that using texting, web surfing and navigating applications while driving elevate crash risk by 10% and decrease speed, speed deviation, headway, and headway deviation by 9%, 23%, 6%, and 18%, respectively. These findings underscore the crucial role of specific smartphone applications in shaping driving behavior and emphasize the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the associated risks in urban driving scenarios.
| ID | pj263 |
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