What does the research tell us about contributory factors related to inattention and driving in rural areas? A systematic review

Inattentive driving, such as visual-manual distraction, cognitive and affective based inattention, and impaired attention, poses a significant risk to traffic safety. Rural environments provide unique challenges for attention when driving, presenting an important area for research. As such, this study conducted a systematic review to synthesise research that explores the factors associated with inattentive driving and/or related motor vehicle crashes and injuries in rural areas. To be eligible for inclusion, studies were required to include analyses that identified a factor/s associated with driving and inattention in rural areas. Studies were excluded if they were conducted outside of high-income countries and were focused on commercial or occupational driving. Databases that were searched included PubMed, PsycNET, SCOPUS, and TRID, as well as reference lists of relevant systematic reviews that had a focus on inattention and driving. Of the 5142 original research articles that were identified, 23 papers met the eligibility criteria. The inattentive factors that were covered primarily included phone use, fatigue or drowsy driving, or distraction more broadly. Key contributory factors to inattentive driving and/or crashes across rural, regional and remote environments included road characteristics, driver characteristics, built environments and environment conditions. The findings also highlight the limited research in this area outside of crash-related data, with numerous future directions proposed. Given the heterogeneity and variety of factors that contribute to inattentive driving and crashes across distinct rural environments, more nuanced approaches for preventing inattentive driving in these areas is required. As such, stakeholders could consider performing comprehensive assessments of the unique circumstances associated with specific environments when considering interventional approaches to this issue.