Examining the effects of texting, web surfing, and navigating apps on urban driving behavior and crash risk

Oikonomou, Maria G.; Orfanou, Foteini; Sekadakis, Marios; Pavlou, Dimosthenis; Yannis, George · 2025 · Crossref

DOI: 10.55329/wiwt2358

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study investigates the impact of specific smartphone applications—texting, web surfing, and navigation—on driving behavior and crash risk in urban environments. Motivated by the rising prevalence of distracted driving among young adults and the need to understand how distinct app functionalities affect performance, the research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of these distractions. Unlike broader studies on mobile phone use, this work specifically evaluates Facebook (scrolling feeds), Facebook Messenger (texting), and Google Maps (searching for locations) to determine their unique effects on speed, headway, and safety outcomes. The methodology employed a driving simulator experiment involving 36 young adult drivers (aged 18–33) from the National Technical University of Athens. Participants used their personal smartphones to enhance ecological validity. The experimental design included four scenarios varying by traffic volume (low vs. high) and lighting conditions (day vs. night). Drivers performed distraction-free driving as a control and engaged in specific tasks: scrolling Facebook feeds, texting via Messenger, and searching for locations on Google Maps. Unexpected events, such as a child chasing a ball or a car emerging from a parking spot, were introduced to assess reaction capabilities. Data were collected at 60 Hz, and statistical analysis utilized linear and binary logistic mixed models to evaluate changes in speed, speed deviation, headway, headway deviation, and crash risk. The results indicate that using these smartphone applications while driving elevates crash risk by 10%. Specifically, distraction leads to a decrease in mean speed by 9%, a reduction in speed deviation by 23%, a decrease in headway distance by 6%, and a reduction in headway deviation by 18%. The study also found that distraction duration varied by task and demographic; Google Maps required the longest engagement time, while Facebook Messenger required the shortest. Additionally, female drivers and those aged 25–33 took longer to complete distraction tasks compared to male drivers and those aged 18–24. The findings confirm that cognitive load from these specific apps significantly alters driving dynamics, reducing variability in speed and spacing while increasing the likelihood of collisions. The significance of this research lies in its detailed quantification of how specific app types influence urban driving safety. By isolating the effects of texting, social media browsing, and navigation, the study highlights that even common smartphone activities substantially impair driving performance. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions and policies to mitigate distraction-related risks in urban settings, particularly among young drivers. The study contributes to the field by providing empirical evidence that supports the development of more nuanced safety measures and future hypothesis-driven research into smartphone distraction.

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• mobile phones

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, behavioral performance data