Drivers' cue utilisation as a moderator for the impact of smartwatch distraction on driving performance

Smartwatches are an emerging technology that may contribute to distracted driving, raising significant concerns about public road safety. As cue utilisation has been demonstrated to reduce cognitive load during simulated driving tasks, higher cue utilisation should enable greater residual cognitive resources to manage smartwatch distractions. This study was designed to assess the relationship between cue utilisation, smartwatch distraction, cognitive load, and driving performance. Qualified drivers (N = 72) were classified with either higher or lower cue utilisation based on a driving assessment of cue utilisation. Participants then completed two counterbalanced simulated driving tasks, one with smartwatch distractions and the other with no distractions. Both a subjective and an objective measure of cognitive load were taken for each driving trial. Cue utilisation was associated with reduced physiological cognitive load during the simulated drives. When reading and responding to text messages via smartwatch, drivers with higher cue utilisation self-reported lower cognitive load, were more likely to maintain a consistent lane position, and were less likely to suddenly swerve, compared to participants with lower cue utilisation. These findings support the proposition that cue utilisation frees residual cognitive resources that can be used to manage distractions while driving, allowing drivers to maintain a high level of driving performance. Assessments of cue utilisation and cue-based training may be effective tools for managing and improving driver safety.