Text messaging during simulated driving
archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified
Summary
High-fidelity driving simulator study of text messaging while driving. Forty participants completed both a single-task driving condition and a dual-task condition that combined driving with text messaging. Dual-task drivers had slower brake-light reactions, larger forward and lateral control impairments, and were involved in more crashes than single-task drivers. The authors conclude that text messaging produces driving impairments that exceed those reported for cell phone conversation and discuss implications for policy and device design.
Key finding
Text messaging while driving slowed brake-light reaction times, degraded both forward and lateral vehicle control, and increased crash rates, with impairment exceeding what prior work reported for cell phone conversation.
Methodology
Within-subjects driving-simulator experiment contrasting single-task driving with a dual-task driving + text-messaging condition. Dependent measures included brake-light reaction time, forward and lateral control metrics, and crash counts.
Sample size: N=40 participants
Quality score: 5 / 5