...and now for another Human Factors Minute! It is commonly believed that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous. People often suggest that talking on a cell phone is similar to talking with in-vehicle passengers, or adjusting the radio. And aren't children an even bigger distraction?

These are common opinions and questions, but they all are based on a poor foundation of the problem of Driver Distraction.

Drivers must concurrently perform several tasks to safely operate a motor vehicle, including speed regulation, lane-keeping, checking mirrors and other locations for potential conflicts, and responding to unexpected events.When drivers engage in other secondary tasks, such as cell phone use, additional time is required for them to detect and respond to roadway hazards.

This delay in reaction time decreases the likelihood that drivers will be able to appropriately respond to an unexpected hazard in time to avoid a collision.

Many other factors are considered when evaluating the ability of a driver to detect a roadway hazard, including the driver's expectation of the hazard, the available illumination, and the size, color and contrast of the object.

In addition, research demonstrates how the cognitive distractions create an "inattention blindness", which inhibits drivers from detecting and responding to roadway hazards at all, even when other factors are adequate for detection.

This has been another Human Factors Minute!Be sure to check out our main show at our official website: https://www.humanfactorscast.media

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