Individual differences in drivers' perceived workload near construction work zones

BACKGROUND: Driver workload is an important cognitive factor that can be associated with frustration and unsafe driving behavior. Extensive research has shown the impacts of external factors on driving workload. However, little is known about the influence of individual differences on driver workload. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this simulation based study are to (a) examine the associations between individual differences and perceived driving workload, and (b) identify the variables that significantly contribute to driver workload within construction work zones. METHODS: Thirty college students (23 males and seven females) navigated through two different work zone configurations in two levels of traffic density. Demographic variables such as gender, years of driving experience, previous traffic offense and type A personality along with driving behavior questionnaire (DBQ) and driving anger expression inventory (DAX) were used as fixed factors in this study. Self-reported measures of NASA TLX were used to collect subjective workload measurement. RESULTS: The results showed that the best predictors of regression analysis were lapses, adaptive behavior, traffic, gender, work zone layout and vehicular aggressiveness. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant associations among individual differences and driver workload suggesting the need to consider these differences when designing for road safety.