Workload Changes in Teenaged Drivers Driving with Distractions

Workload refers to the amount of cognitive resources necessary to perform a task, and it can be manipulated by incorporating secondary tasks into a primary task such as driving. The present study incorporated answering a phone and removing a plastic bottle top into a driving task for teen drivers. Results showed few performance differences between driving with and without distractions, although subjective workload did increase for the drive that included distractions compared to the non-distraction drive. This indicates that teens may be able to maintain driving performance while performing secondary tasks, although their workload appears to increase.