October 10, 2011
By: Carrie Van Brunt-Wiley
While law enforcement and traffic safety officials have long emphasized how dangerous texting at the wheel is, a new study indicates it may be even more perilous than once believed.
Conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute, the study found that a driver's reaction time is doubled when distracted, such as when they're reading or sending a text message from a mobile device.
The study is the first ever performed in an actual driving environment, according to Christine Yager, an associate transportation researcher from TTI's Center for Transportation Safety.
"Most research on texting and driving has been limited to driving simulators," said Yager. "This study involved participants driving an actual vehicle. So one of the more important things we know now that we didn't know before is that response times are even slower than we previously thought."
The researchers arrived at their conclusions after having participants enter words into their cellphones while navigating a test track. Researchers then flashed blinking lights at them and measured their reactions to those lights, comparing them to those who went through the course undistracted.
The researchers are hopeful the results of their study will lead to fewer auto insurance claims as state and federal authorities implement laws aimed at reducing distracted driving.
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