Hands-free versus hand-held cell phone conversation on a braking response by young drivers.
As some states allow motorists to use hands-free cell phones only while driving, this study was done to examine some braking responses to see if conversing on these two types of cell phones affects quick responding. College-age drivers (n=25) completed reaction time trials in go/no-go situations under three conditions: control (no cell phone or conversation), and conversing on hands-free and hand-held cell phones. Their task involved moving the right foot from one pedal to another as quickly as possible in response to a visual signal in a lab setting. Significantly slower reaction times, movement times, and total response times were found for both cell phone conditions than for the control but no differences between hands-free and hand-held phone conditions. These findings provide additional support that talking on cell phones, regardless if it is hands-free or hand-held, reduces speed of information processing.
Hendrick
Joy L
JL
Kinesiology Department, Studio West, SUNY College at Cortland, P.O. Box 2000, Cortland, NY 13045-0900, USA. hendrick@cortland.edu
Switzer
Jamie R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D040421:Cell Phone; D003654:Deceleration; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D014705:Verbal Behavior