The 9th International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention successfully concluded
For the first time, the 9th International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention (DDI2024) was hosted by SAFER Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers in the U.S. Approximately 130 international guests from over 20 countries attended the event, with around 50% coming from abroad. The conference theme, “Advances in the understanding and management of distraction and inattention for all road users,” sparked discussions, demonstrating the strength of this growing community.
Keynote insights
The keynote speakers addressed highly relevant topics. Professor Natasha Merat from the University of Leeds explored how cognitive load during driving impacts performance, posing the question of whether it protects or disrupts drivers as new technologies evolve and influence human interaction with vehicles.
Professor John Lee from the University of Wisconsin–Madison provided insights into distraction as a dynamic interaction between the driver, road conditions, and vehicle technology, emphasizing that it is more than a cognitive process. He highlighted the increasing complexity of distraction as vehicle automation advances.
Panels tackled distraction with tech and enforcement strategies
Two engaging panel discussions brought additional depth to the conference. The first, led by Dr. Bryan Reimer from MIT AgeLab, explored attention management by integrating attention-centric design and real-time assessments, using technology to improve drivers’ situational awareness and responsiveness.
The second panel, hosted by Dr. David Yang, President and Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, focused on practical approaches to overcoming distraction through policy, education, technology, and enforcement, drawing from the experiences of key stakeholders.
Best Student Award to Ina Koniakowsky
The Best Student Award was also presented at the event, with seven nominees competing (see list here). The award, consisting of a USD $500 prize, a diploma, and free registration for the 2026 DDI conference, went to Ina Koniakowsky. Her presentation “The Role of Mental Models on the Effectiveness of Driver Monitoring Systems in Reducing Driver Distraction: Insights from a Driving Simulator Study 1”, focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of a driver monitoring system (DMS) in reducing driver distraction, particularly in addressing Long Distraction (LD) and Visual Attention Time Sharing (VATS), through a driving simulator experiment, which showcase important contributions to the field of traffic safety.
The jury was composed of the conference co-chairs, along with select members of the Scientific Committee. Congratulations to Ina Koniakowsky!
Conference activities and networking
The conference featured around 50 presentations, including a poster session, and provided plenty of networking opportunities. Attendees were also treated to guided tours of Mcity, the world’s first purpose-built testing facility for connected and automated vehicles, and Michigan Stadium, the largest football stadium in the U.S. and an engineering marvel. The conference dinner was held at the University of Michigan Museum of Art, adding a touch of cultural enrichment to the event.
Conference proceedings
The conference proceedings, including extended abstracts and presentations, is available for free online here. Delegates will also have access to recordings of the sessions. The best abstracts and presentations will be invited to submit full papers to a special issue of the high-impact journal Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, with accepted papers being published in a regular TRF issue and compiled in an online special issue in 2025. All abstracts have been peer-reviewed by members in the DDI Scientific Committee.
Gothenburg – the venue for the 2026 DDI conference
The 10th DDI conference will take place at Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg from October 20-22, 2026, marking the 10th anniversary of the event.
"We are very much looking forward to celebrating this milestone and continuing to build knowledge together with researchers and practitioners in this important field," said Malin Levin from SAFER and the DDI organisation committee.
About DDI
The International Conference on Driver Distraction and Inattention is the primary international event on this topic, attracting delegates from more than 20 countries. It is designed to bring together participants from academia, industry, and government, providing an update on developments and trends in road user inattention and distraction. The conference features keynote speakers, plenary and parallel sessions, poster exhibitions, and panel dialogues with various experts, representing diverse disciplines within this line of research. Networking is also a crucial part of the conference, facilitating research dialogue among global experts to address the challenges of driver distraction and inattention, ultimately contributing to saving lives on the road.
Research topics at this scientific conference include theory, measurement, effects, crash risks, and prevention/mitigation related to distraction and inattention in the traffic system. While driver distraction is the main focus, research on other road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and users of new modes of transport like electric scooters, is also welcomed. The conference also covers practical aspects of distraction and inattention, including education, road design, legislation, and stakeholder coordination aimed at preventing or mitigating injuries and fatalities.
DDI2026 continues the successful series of DDI conferences previously held in Gothenburg, Sweden (2009, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2022), Sydney, Australia (2015), Paris, France (2017), online (2021) and in Ann Arbor, US (2024). Today, the conference plays a pivotal role in this field of research and is held biannually, in even years.
DDI conferences are co-organized by SAFER Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers in Sweden, Chalmers University of Technology, Université Gustave Eiffel in France, and the University of New South Wales Sydney in Australia. The co-chairs of the conference are:
- Dr Alexandra Fort, Université Gustave Eiffel, France
- Dr Christophe Jallais, Université Gustave Eiffel, France
- Dr Jonas Bärgman, SAFER Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers University
- Emeritus Prof Michael Regan, University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia
