An accident data base search was performed to determine the effects of driver visual allocation into the vehicle (interior visual workload) on accident rates. The study was carried out using the North Carolina (U.S.) accident data base, which has investigating-officer written narratives entered and which is accessible through keyword searches. The search was conducted on the entire 1989 data base and on the first four-month period of 1992. The results show clearly that numerous accidents are caused by visual allocation into the vehicle. Areas showing high rates are radio usage, mirror usage, attention to loose objects in the vehicle, interaction with another person or animal in the vehicle, and involuntary visual occlusion attributed to several sources. Numerous other sources also cause smaller numbers of accidents. Comparison of the 1989 and 1992 data bases indicates that cellular phone usage accidents are becoming more prevalent and that citizen's band radio usage accidents are becoming less prevalent, probably because of the relative change in numbers of these devices in vehicles. (A)
Samenvatting