PILOT STUDY OF DISTRACTED DRIVERS

The purpose of this pilot project was to (a) field-test a form to see if the requested data elements fit what investigating officers need to report on crashes that involve distracted drivers, and (b) provide data to inform Virginia state legislation and policy. All seven state police divisions, four selected counties, and 14 independent cities were requested to participate in the study. All localities participated in the study with varying degrees of success. State troopers submitted the majority of the surveys received (75%). Of the crashes reported, 63% occurred in rural areas. Surveys were received on 2,792 crash scenes that involved 4,494 drivers including 2,822 distracted drivers. Half of the crashes that were reported involved only a single driver and of all the crashes reported, 98% involved a single distracted driver. Troopers and officers wrote over 1,400 open-ended responses to indicate the MAIN distraction in each crash. Approximately 250 of the open-ended responses were coded into existing categories. The remaining open-ended responses were classified into new categories. Overall, various distractions inside the vehicle accounted for 62% of the distractions reported, distractions outside the vehicle accounted for 35% of the distractions reported, and 3% of the distractions were unknown or not marked on the survey form. Driver fatigue or driver that was asleep accounted for 17% of the specific distractions reported. Looking at crashes, other roadside incidents, traffic, or other vehicles accounted for 13% of the distractions reported. Looking at scenery or landmarks accounted for 10% of the distractions reported. A distraction caused by passengers or children in the vehicle accounted for 9% of the distractions reported. No other cause accounted for more than 7% of the distractions reported.