A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 961.

No abstract

The results suggest that cell phone use while driving should not be considered a simple dichotomous task (yes/no). Consideration should instead be made for a set of discrete cell phone subtasks that are each associated with varying levels of risk. Several hypotheses are presented to explain why cell phone use while driving was found to not increase the likelihood of involvement in a safety-critical event.

No abstract

FOREWORDThe work performed under this project included multiple research efforts designed to investigate the use of simulators in training commercial motor vehicle drivers. The topics addressed in this project include the effectiveness of entry-level training (including simulation-based training) for commercial licensing testing and the effectiveness of different training methods in terms of licensing skills test scores and driving records post-licensure. As part of this project, several simulated advanced scenarios (e.g., tanker trailer, tire blowout) are showcased as well. A cost analysis of different training methods was performed as part of this project, along with a case study of existing uses of commercial vehicle driving simulators. This report documents the method, results, and conclusions of these efforts. NOTICEThis document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or the use thereof.The contents of this Report reflect the views of the contractor, who is responsible for the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Department of Transportation.This Report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers named herein. Trade or manufacturers' names appear herein only because they are considered essential to the objective of this document. This study examined the effectiveness of a driving simulator for entry-level commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver training and testing. Four training groups of 107 individuals (conventional 8-week certified course, conventional 8-week certified course with 60 percent of driving in a simulator, informal training with friends/relatives, and commercial's driver license [CDL] test-focused short courses) were followed from training into employment. There were no group differences in Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) road tests. There were group differences in DMV range tests and validated real truck and simulator re-creations of DMV road and range tests. Conventional and simulator groups generally scored higher than informal and CDL test-focused participants. A 4-month follow-up after being hired as a CDL driver indicated no differences in performance, safety, self-or supervisory-ratings. Findings support the use of CMV driving simulator-based training, but simulator-based testing does not appear to be feasible at this point. Cost analysis indicated simulator training using the study simulator was $35/participant less expensive than conventional training. The simulator was examined in a demonstration of extreme conditions and emergency maneuvers under different vehicle configurations with 48 other drivers. Also provided is a case study of existing implementations of CMV simulator training, indicating benefits, drawbacks, and drivers' overall opinions.17.