Distractions in Everyday Driving wins award…

The AAA Foundation's distracted driving phase two report, Causes and Consequences of Distraction in Everyday Driving , recently received the Scientific Paper Award for 2003 from the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. You can download a PDF version or request free hard copies.

According to AAAM, the award recognizes “high-quality research in new and sometimes controversial areas.”

Jane Stutts and fellow University of North Carolina researchers used miniature video cameras to monitor the behind-the-wheel behavior of 70 volunteers. Distractions included cell phone use, manipulation of vehicle controls and activities of child passengers, among others.

The report represents the second phase of Foundation research on driver distractions. The first report -- The Role of Driver Distraction in Traffic Crashes -- was published in 2001. Stutts will receive the award at a September AAAM meeting.