EFFECTS OF VISUAL DISTRACTION ON REACTION TIME IN A SIMULATED TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT
Existing studies of the relationship between visual distractors and traffic accidents are both limited and contradictory. The present study investigates the effect of: (a) number of distractors, (b) color of distractors, and (c) location of distractors, on the perception of a target stimulus. Reaction time was the response measure. Analysis of variance showed that all three dimensions have a significant effect on reaction time, with location having the greatest effect. Conclusions are that: (1) legal limits be placed on distractors, and (2) engineering decisions be oriented toward counteracting the potential negative effects of the background distractors. /Author/
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Corporate Authors:
University of Texas, Austin
Council for Advanced Transportation Studies
Austin, TX United States 78712 -
Authors:
- Holahan, C J
- Publication Date: 1977-3
Media Info
- Features: References; Tables;
- Pagination: 14 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Color; Distraction; Driver licensing; Laws; Location; Reaction time; Simulation; Traffic crashes; Traffic engineering
- Old TRIS Terms: Driver restriction
- Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00173253
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: Res. Rpt. 47
- Contract Numbers: (77) 7200-02-B
- Files: TRIS, ATRI
- Created Date: Apr 12 1978 12:00AM