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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effectiveness of rear-end collision warnings presented in different sensory modalities while drivers were engaged in cell phone conversations in a driving simulator.
METHODS: Sixteen participants in a driving simulator experienced three collision warning conditions (none, tactile and auditory) in three different conversation conditions (none, simple hands-free, complex hands-free). Driver reaction time was captured from warning onset to brake initiation (WON2B).
RESULTS: WON2B times for auditory warnings were significantly larger for simple conversations as compared to no conversation (+148ms) while there was no significant difference between these conditions for tactile warnings (+53ms). For complex conversations, WON2B times for both tactile (+146ms) and auditory warnings (+221ms) were significantly larger than during no conversation. During complex conversations tactile warnings produced significantly shorter WON2B times than no warning (-141ms).
CONCLUSIONS: Tactile warnings are more effective than auditory warnings during both simple and complex cell phone conversations. These results indicate that tactile rear-end collision warnings have the potential to offset some of the driving impairments caused cell phone conversations. |