Texting on your mobile while driving is more dangerous than Alcohols and Drugs

The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has released an interesting report that tackles “The Effect Of Text Messaging On Driver Behaviour”. 17 drivers between 17-24 years old took part in this simulator study, where they were requested to completed one normal drive (undistracted), and another one that included text messaging tasks.

Reading and writing text messages had an effect on participants’ performance, particularly reaction time and ability to maintain lateral vehicle control.

Reaction times were around 35% slower when writing a text message while driving, compared to 12% when driving under the effect of alcohol consumption to the legal limit, and 21% under drugs effect, based on earlier studies by TRL.

Female drivers showed greater variability in lateral lane position when texting than male drivers. However, female participants tended to show greater speed reductions indicating that they may have had greater awareness that their driving was impaired. This study highlighted that when texting, a driver may present a greater accident risk than when at the legal limit for alcohol consumption or when under the influence of cannabis, reinforcing that drivers should refrain from this dangerous activity.

Personally sometimes I do text while driving, but I use the dictionary, and it takes me longer to finish a message while driving than in the normal situation, I know it’s not right to use your mobile while driving but sometimes you have to.

Each participant was asked to write 5 messages while driving on the simulator, you can notice how some of them used shortcuts like: cu to replace see you, or ur - your. You can notice that some of them were so careful about punctuation, could this be a reason for more distraction? (click the table for a clear view)

To download the full report, click here.

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