Effect of cellular Effect of cellular telephone telephone

conversations and conversations and other potential other potential interference on interference on

reaction time in a reaction time in a braking responsebraking response

Patrick WesongaPatrick Wesonga

Louis HironemLouis Hironem

Research Ideas/QuestionResearch Ideas/Question

Confirm that the use of cellular Confirm that the use of cellular telephones generates capacity telephones generates capacity (attention) interference, (attention) interference,

Hypothesis that there is no safety Hypothesis that there is no safety advantage to using hands-free cell advantage to using hands-free cell phonesphones

see how interference generated by see how interference generated by cellular phone use compares to cellular phone use compares to other tasks (listening to radio, etc)other tasks (listening to radio, etc)

Background SupportBackground Support

13 published studies that the author uses 13 published studies that the author uses as a basis for his hypothesisas a basis for his hypothesis

Most of these reports contend that phone Most of these reports contend that phone use is a contributing factor to many use is a contributing factor to many accidentsaccidents

Many solely focused on physical operation Many solely focused on physical operation of a phone and not the conversation itselfof a phone and not the conversation itself

Introduces concepts of “capacity Introduces concepts of “capacity interference” as well as “structural interference” as well as “structural interference”interference”

Theoretical Basis for Theoretical Basis for Analyzing Analyzing

Question/HypothesisQuestion/Hypothesis The use of phone generates capacity The use of phone generates capacity

inference; interference due to inference; interference due to limitations in some central capacity limitations in some central capacity (attention) (attention)

Applicability/Practical Applicability/Practical ContributionsContributions

Gives lawmakers more pertinent Gives lawmakers more pertinent information to craft legislationinformation to craft legislation

Prevent accidents by providing Prevent accidents by providing knowledge about the negative knowledge about the negative effects of capacity interference on effects of capacity interference on braking responsebraking response

Theoretical ContributionTheoretical Contribution

Support findings that phone use Support findings that phone use causes poorer reaction time causes poorer reaction time

Support the findings that reaction Support the findings that reaction time in braking slowed by paced time in braking slowed by paced conversationsconversations

Provide evidence that using hands-Provide evidence that using hands-free and hand-held phones caused free and hand-held phones caused significant, equivalent declines in significant, equivalent declines in braking performancebraking performance

Appropriate Appropriate MethodologiesMethodologies

Variable used for this experiment is the reaction Variable used for this experiment is the reaction time in brakingtime in braking

Measured time it takes between the activation of Measured time it takes between the activation of red lamp and the initial movement of the foot red lamp and the initial movement of the foot from the acceleratorfrom the accelerator

Statistical analysis is conducted to test the Statistical analysis is conducted to test the hypotheseshypotheses

Random 10-20s delay for the activation of the red Random 10-20s delay for the activation of the red lamp eliminates the effect of anticipation and lamp eliminates the effect of anticipation and reduces the error involved in the experimentreduces the error involved in the experiment

Conversations embedded into the experiment to Conversations embedded into the experiment to simulate real life conversations with a passenger simulate real life conversations with a passenger or on a cell phoneor on a cell phone

Statistical Analyses and Statistical Analyses and AssumptionsAssumptions

ANOVA and pair-wise comparisons ANOVA and pair-wise comparisons using Tukey done to compare the using Tukey done to compare the differences in means between all the differences in means between all the conditions (A-E)conditions (A-E)

Assume that braking response is an Assume that braking response is an integral part of safe drivingintegral part of safe driving

ResultsResults

Listening to music while driving has Listening to music while driving has little effect on the braking responselittle effect on the braking response

Conversations and phone use equally Conversations and phone use equally impair the braking response of the impair the braking response of the driverdriver

Radio cause minimal to no Radio cause minimal to no distractiondistraction

Conclusions DrawnConclusions Drawn

Yes, they are since they are Yes, they are since they are consistent with the findings of consistent with the findings of previous papers and analysisprevious papers and analysis

It makes sense that deviating from It makes sense that deviating from the focus of driving will impair the the focus of driving will impair the driverdriver

Future Work/Research Future Work/Research DirectionsDirections

Use a motion simulator as opposed Use a motion simulator as opposed to a stationary oneto a stationary one

Test other factors besides braking Test other factors besides braking responseresponse

The study that distraction due to the The study that distraction due to the use of phones is more than other use of phones is more than other secondary taskssecondary tasks