With the ban on text messaging while driving now being enforced, there’s plenty of talk among the Crackberry fanatics and other text-happy students about the need or even effectiveness of this new law.
While some of us argue that we’ve grown up with cell phones and feel comfortable sending text messages behind the wheel, this mindset doesn’t always prove itself true when actually measured. Yulan Liang and Yu Zhang are doctoral students interested in ergonomics research related to driver performance. Their studies are geared towards using a three-screen driving simulator (think of a high-tech version of a Need for Speed-esque video game) to assess driver distractions in two different categories: visual and cognitive.
According to Liang, a visual distraction is anything that takes the driver’s eyes away from the road, and a cognitive distraction (such as a cell phone call) makes the driver less perceptive of his or her surroundings. Research on more experienced drivers reveals how people are able to adapt to most cognitive distractions because driving has become second nature. Although both types of distractions are the culprits for changes in performance metrics such as reaction time and lane deviation, Liang cites the most risk with visual distractions because there is no way to adapt to not having your eyes on road.
In terms of text messaging, the most distinct and dangerous difference between talking on a cell phone and texting is the added visual distraction of looking away to read the message. Both talking and texting are hazardous because of the cognitive distraction of having to comprehend and respond to an added load of information, but with texting one or both hands are involved, leaving the driver to awkwardly steer with knees or elbows while also taking his or her eyes off the road.
The scare of being caught and having to pay the $100 fine and court costs of a citation should not be the sole or even primary reason to obey the new law. Road-related accidents and even fatalities occur when drivers are not paying attention, such as when they are sending a text message and research conducted right here on campus proves it.
Will this law always be such a problem for the text-obsessed who are bummed about only being able to tap out messages at stop lights now? Probably not, considering phone manufacturers came out with headsets when talking on phones while driving was made illegal in several states. Several phones are already equipped with sophisticated text-to-speech converters, such as DriveSafe.ly which can be activated to read received messages aloud and automatically reply stating that the recipient is busy driving.
Until all cell phone users utilize such applications, tell your BFF Jill that texting while driving is not something to LOL about. Being a safe, alert driver is FTW.
Send Jessie your thoughts on the distractions of texting while driving to [email protected].
