THE USE OF CAR TELEPHONE WHILE DRIVING

AUTOPUHELIMEN KAYTTO AJON AIKANA

A car telephone was used during driving while different controls in the car and the succesfulness of the telephone calls were registered. The 32 subjects included experienced car telephone users and first-time users. The driving took place either in the centre of Helsinki or in a suburb. The drivers were instructed in the use of the telephone before driving. The driving routes were familiar; each driver had also driven the same route without using a car telephone. The results showed that 1. The driving time is longer for first-timers where traffic flow allows. 2. All drivers performed the telephoning tasks appropriately and the first-timers were only slightly worse. 3. After the drive the first-timers thought the telephone use had clearly affected their driving and even increased risk, while the experienced users considered the effects to be small and without risk. 4. Driving habits change in connection with telephone use; the general tendency is a decrease in brake use compared to normal. 5. The changes in driving habits vary between individuals and they can even be in opposite directions; some drivers increase their use of controls, especially the brake, while the majority decrease brake use, some drivers noticeably. The majority of drivers increase their alertness and thus anticipation in driving, which among other things decrease the need to brake. Earlier conflicting results about the effects of car-telephone use can be explained by the finding that the telephone has different effects on different drivers. A rapid growth in the number of car telephones could at first slightly reduce traffic safety. In the long run safety could, however, even improve if some easily implemented measures are introduced at the same time. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9514547292
• Corporate Authors:

  Helsinki University, Finland

  Department of Psychology, Ritarikatu 5
  Helsinki,   Finland 
• Authors:
  • Mikkonen, V
• Publication Date: 1988

Language

• Finnish

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 40 p.
• Serial:
  • Raporttisarja
  • Issue Number: A 39
  • Publisher: Helsinki University, Finland
  • ISSN: 0782-0445

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Behavior; Drivers; Driving; Telephone
• ITRD Terms: 9001: Behaviour; 1243: Car; 1772: Driver; 1855: Driving (veh); 390: Telephone
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00492421
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
• ISBN: 951-45-4729-2
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1990 12:00AM