By now, you have probably heard that texting or talking on the phone can be a huge distraction when driving. But, did you know that just receiving a cell phone notification is enough to distract a driver? Researchers at Florida State University set out to determine to what extent cell phone notifications can distract drivers—and the results may surprise you.
The 150 participants of the study were asked to complete a sustained attention performance test. During the test, participants sat in front of a screen as a series of single-digit numbers were displayed. The participants were asked to touch the screen every time the number changed, as long as the number was not “3”. Each participant sat through the test twice. The first time, the participants were allowed to complete the test without interruptions. However, the second time, the researchers sent text messages and placed phone calls to the participants’ phones so they would receive notifications while trying to concentrate.
Researchers found that the participants were extremely distracted by their notifications even if they did not pick up the phone to respond to the text or answer the call. Just knowing that their phone had a notification was enough to distract them from the task at hand. Researchers also determined that it didn’t matter what type of sound was used to notify the participants of the message or phone call—all notifications created the same level of distraction.
How does this translate to distracted driving? Researchers concluded that people become uncomfortable when they know they have a notification on their phones and have not checked it. Even if they are aware that they shouldn’t check their phones, they feel compelled to do so in order to get rid of the unpleasant feeling. This means drivers who receive notifications while behind the wheel may still check their phones even when they are well aware of the dangers of distracted driving.
Even a cell phone that is on silent or vibrate has the power to distract a driver if he feels the vibration or sees his phone light up from the incoming message or call. To prevent this problem, drivers are encouraged to turn their phones on silent and keep them out of sight. Another option would be to turn the phone completely off while behind the wheel.
If you have been injured by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. Contact Reisch Law Firm today to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney. Schedule a free consultation by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
