Mutual interference of driving and texting performance

Abstract

Texting while driving is a disturbingly common habit; however, the impact of texting on driving performance and effective approaches to counteract its risks are still not well understood. This study utilizes the Lane Change Task and smartphone technologies to capture driving and texting behaviors in a simulated driving environment. Data from this study suggests that driving and texting interfere with each other. Texting increases lane deviation; driving increases texting completion time and texting errors. The findings provide evidence that can be used for new social campaign approaches and smartphone technologies to reduce the risks of texting while driving.