Reaction Time and Effects of Distraction Essay Example

Board show that distracted driving accounts to about 9, 000 car accidents daily across the nation (Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Para. 1). The use of mobile phone by someone driving for up to 5 minutes before a car crash is closely related to a fourfold likelihood of crashing (Shinar, David 525).

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides that at about 1.6 million car accidents yearly involve drivers using mobile phones for talking or texting while driving. Moreover, 73% of the people who drive and have mobile phones accept that they use the mobiles while driving (Hosansky, David 1). We are losing extraordinarily many lives on our roads, and for what? Convenience? Death is not and will never be convenient my fellow citizens. So we can consistently keep in touch with our families and loved ones? Surely, a fatal car accident separates that connection.

Research reveals distracted driving is worse than drunk driving. Pioneer researchers have done multiple studies using driver simulators who drive while using their mobile phones. According to research by Michael and Hosking that used both drivers, using cell phones and drunk drivers for comparisons found that driving while using mobile phones is more dangerous than driving while drunk (Federal Communications Commission Para. 2). These findings provide shocking truths about the possible hazards of using a mobile phone while driving for any person. Fellow citizens, talking on a mobile phone while behind wheels is extremely dangerous, and it is paramount to avoid it totally.

In the year 2011, over 23% of 1.3 million automotive accidents involved the use of cell phone while driving. Most of the drivers aged 18 to 20 years confessed to texting and

talking with their phones at the time the accidents occurred. Over 34% drivers admitted they texted when driving whereas 52% admitted the made a call using the cell phone while driving (“DWI” 1). Recent research reveals that sending and receiving messages while driving forces the driver to take away his/her eyes off the road for almost 4.6 seconds. This clearly implies that during that time the driver is blind (“DWI” 1). The use of cell phone while driving makes the driver blind from some seconds. This increases the likelihood of causing an accident because the driver is not concentrating on driving.

Understanding the effect of using cell phones on driving performance and the issue of traffic safety as well as public health is one of the most important areas of research. Several studies have examined the effect of distraction on driver performance. These studies have involved simulation exercises aimed at establish the reaction time of a distracted driver and undistracted driver. Many of the studies have revealed that drivers who take off their eyes from the road for long periods have more reaction time as well as not able to control their vehicles sufficiently in a given situation (Sharma, Ram, and Rachana Sharma 228). However, there has been minimal research on the effect of distraction driving on the reaction time of a driver. Most of the researchers have emphasized on the impact of distracted driving. These researchers have established that distracted driving leads to accidents. Towards the end of this study, the aim is to systematically analyze the reaction time of distracted driving and undistracted driving. The reaction time will be different because distracted drivers take

off their eyes for some periods while undistracted drivers do not take off their eyes.

The primary objective of the study is to prove whether distracted driving increases the reaction time. This study will aim establishing whether cognitive distraction resulting from cell phone use increase or decreases the reaction time of the driver. To accomplish this study, a car simulator was used in order to establish the effect of several levels of distraction on the driver’s reaction time. The study used free and hand held cell phone setups.

Method

Participants

The experiment used 30 participants with 15 women and 15 men. All the participants were college students. The age group of the participants ranged from 17 to 27 years. The average mean of the age was 20.5. The test proved that distracted driving leads to increased reaction time.

Apparatus

To conduct the experiment, we used Volkswagen vehicles. These vehicles were connected to the science lab BioPak. Each vehicle had headphones for every participant. Personal cell phones were used to create distraction. While driving, participants were required to type and send message. At the same time, participants were required to react to an audio beep. Personal data sheets were used to record each participant’s time taken to react to the beep when undistracted and when distracted.

Procedure

The first step was to test each subject under normal driving without any conversation or use of cell phone. Reaction time was tested within every element of test. Test participants completed a four-minute practice in order to ensure that they have clear understanding of handling the simulator. After the practice phase, the testing phase began where participants entered a 12-minute driving part. The first three minute entailed

normal driving without any distraction. This section was used as the benchmark of the experiment. After this section, the test continued by requiring the participants to use hand help phone setup. Drivers were instructed to use their phones while driving by drafting and sending a text message. To measure the reaction time for distracted drivers using mobile phones, participants tapped on a cue which would send an auditory signal to the a recorder. The recorder recorded the time lapse between the signal and the driver’s reaction time to the signal. For the undistracted section, drivers did not have phones and used earphones to listen to the beep. For each section, the driver had to react to 10 random audio beeps. Using the recorder connected to a computer, it was easy to note the time between the beep and participants reaction time.

Results

The data used for analysis was the average of the 10 RT trials. In the undistracted condition, the mean RT in milliseconds was 230.08, with standard deviation of 58.87ms. In the distracted condition, the mean RT was 321.36ms, with standard deviation of 56.77ms. There were 36 pairs of scores. The difference between distracted and undistracted RT was 91.28ms. A correlated t-test was conducted and showed that distracted RT was significantly slower than the undistracted RT {t(35=10.52, p<0.0001). Effect size was evaluated using Cohen’s d (d= 1.58). These findings clearly show that distracted driving leads to increased reaction time.

Discussion

Reaction time in Milli Seconds

The study supported the hypothesis distracted driving increases the reaction time resulting to the likelihood of an accident. The results confirmed increased reaction time for drivers involved in the use of cell phones while

driving. Texting while driving affected the participants driving performance. In the sections, where the participants were not required to use their phones, the reaction time to the beep was commendable. Participants took a lower time to react to the signal, which shows that undistracted drivers have a lower reaction time because their concentration is on driving. Participants in this section did not take their eyes off the road.

On the other hand, when drivers were instructed to use their cell phones while driving, there was significant increase in the reaction time. Participants in this section took more seconds to react to the beep. This is because their concentration was on the cell phone instead of driving. All the participants using cell phones took their eyes off the road. On reaching this section, participants typing and texting exhibited prolonged as well as frequent glances off the road. In addition, distracted participants admitted to have some problems in controlling their vehicles within their lane. This implies that participants could not accurately control their vehicles on their lane. Furthermore, participants agreed that if the was another vehicle coming from the other direction, they could have caused accident because of failure to maintain the lane accurately. As a result, texting while driving lowers the performance of the driver. This increases the likelihood of causing an accident (Shinar, David 525).

The findings of this study support other researcher’s works that indicate increased reaction time for distracted drivers that causes accident. Different scholars and organizations have reported that distracted driving results to traffic crashes because drivers tend to take their eyes off the road (Shinar, David 525). In addition, their concentration is very

low thus increasing the likelihood of causing accidents.

Implications of the Study and Counter Measures

Generally, the study was important in several ways. The first one is that it provided a clear picture of how distracted driving leads to increased reaction time resulting to high chances of causing accident. As a result, measures need to be taken because using mobile phones promotes a serious risk to the lives and health of the general public. The findings of the study stress the importance of banning mobile phone use while behind wheels (Sharma, Ram and Rachana Sharma 228). As a result, law makers should act responsibly by formulating and implementing laws the prevent people from driving while using cell phones.

The second importance of the study is that it reveals the need to educate drivers and citizens the need to avoid distractions while behind the wheels. For example, the study revealed that participants operating cell phones had problems in controlling their vehicles in their relevant lane. As a result, if the driver loses complete control of the vehicle there is increased chances of accident. There is need to create awareness to all drivers the need to avoid cell phones while driving. In addition, the cell phone industries should manufacture phones that would discourage their use while behind wheels.

Limitations of the Study

Despite the huge contribution of the study to research literature on distracted driving, the study had two main limitations. The first limitation was high cost of obtaining the vehicles, computers, and BioPak for recording the time taken by different participants. The research process was costly because some of the tools involved were expensive. For example, hiring vehicles and purchasing computers

and BioPak was expensive. However, the research was successful despite this limitation. The other limitation is lack of the ability to measure participant’s real reaction to the beep. Sometimes it was hard to establish whether the participants were correctly reacting to the beep. However, the research was successful in obtaining the required data for analysis.

The Future of Driver Distraction and Future Study

Due to the continuous evolution of smart phones, it is clear that there will also be continuous unintended effects especially in driving. Drivers will continue to use their phones while driving in order to satisfy their needs and wants. For example, drivers might start entertaining themselves using their phones while driving like tweeting and sharing photos as well as playing games. This will totally withdraw their attention from driving thus causing accidents (Sharma, Ram and Rachana Sharma 228). Frequent and prolonged look away from the road will result to distraction thereby compromising the safety of the driver and other road users. The most affected age group is the youth who like using their cell phones to communicate with their friends and relatives while driving. Unless there is government intervention, distracted driving will continue among drivers who do not care about their safety and other road users. In future, there is need to have a research on the age group that is most involved in distracted driving.

Conclusion

This experiment discovered significant increase in the reaction time of distracted drivers. Distracted drivers took more seconds to react to the beep compared to undistracted drivers. Distracted drivers admitted that they had problems with controlling their vehicles in the correct lane. In addition, their concentration on the vehicle was

low. As a result, distracted driving lowers the driver’s ability to adequately direct his/her attention to the road. Most of the distracted drivers tend to take their eyes off the road. Therefore, it is hard for them to notice an oncoming vehicle and this increases the likelihood of causing accident. Distracted driving compromises the general safety of the driver, pedestrians and passengers.

Based on the findings of the experiment, there is need to set strict laws that prevents people from using cell phones while driving. The enactment of these laws will reduce the number of deaths resulting from distracted driving. In addition, it will ensure discipline in roads because some of the indiscipline cases involve drivers distracted driving. Finally, it is the responsibility of all citizens to observe traffic rules by staying away from distracted driving.

Works Cited

• "DWI: Driving While Intexticated." Texting and Driving Safety. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com/texting-and-driving-stats/
• Federal Communications Commission,. (2013). The Dangers of Distracted Driving. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 05 December 2016, from https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dangers-texting-while-driving
• Hosansky, David. "Distracted Driving: Should Driver Texting and Cellphone Use Be  Banned?" CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press, 4 May 2012. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. http://library.cqpress.com.sinclair.ohionet.org/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2012050400&&num=3
• Sharma, Ram N, and Rachana Sharma. Experimental Psychology. New Delhi: Atlantic, 2012. Print.
• Shinar, David. Traffic Safety and Human Behavior. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2014. Print.
• Virginia Tech Transportation Institute,. (2013). April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month | Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Vtti.vt.edu. Retrieved 05 December 2016, from http://www.vtti.vt.edu/featured/?p=199
• Undistracted Level of Distraction 230.08 Distracted Level of Distraction 321.36