Post-Trip Mind-Wandering Assessment: A Scale and Protocol for Evaluating Train Driver Focus Across Multiple Journey Phases

In professional driving, maintaining alertness throughout the journey can be challenging. Despite efforts to address decreased alertness, there is no agreed method to investigate mind-wandering in transportation. Trigger-based data collection methods are most common, but can influence participants’ mental condition, reducing mind-wandering occurrences. Besides, in real-life test rides it is not desirable to interrupt and question drivers. Building upon existing research, a mind-wandering investigation protocol and questionnaire were developed to address this. The protocol was tested and refined by querying train drivers about their mind-wandering experiences on a train simulator, allowing drivers to assess mind-wandering across multiple journey phases. The results show that the proposed protocol can provide greater insight into driver alertness and mind-wandering in professional driving settings.