Effect of cellular telephone conversations and other potential interference on reaction time in a braking response.
Consiglio W, Driscoll P, Witte M, Berg WP. · 2003
View Original AbstractPhone conversations slow emergency braking reactions equally whether using handheld or hands-free devices, suggesting cognitive interference is the real safety risk.
Plain English Summary
Researchers tested how phone conversations affect reaction time when braking by having 22 participants use a driving simulator under different conditions. They found that talking on either handheld or hands-free phones slowed reaction times compared to no distraction, while listening to music did not. This suggests phone conversations create cognitive interference that could impair driving safety regardless of whether you use your hands.
Why This Matters
This study highlights a crucial safety concern that extends beyond just EMF exposure to the cognitive demands of wireless communication. The finding that hands-free phones impaired reaction time just as much as handheld devices challenges the common assumption that hands-free equals safer. What this means for you is that the act of conversation itself, not just physical phone handling, creates mental interference that could prove dangerous in emergency situations. The science demonstrates that our brains struggle to fully process both driving demands and phone conversations simultaneously, regardless of the phone's design.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
This experiment studied the effect of phone conversations and other potential interference on reaction time (RT) in a braking response.
Using a laboratory station which simulated the foot activity in driving, 22 research participants we...
Results indicated that conversation, whether conducted in-person or via a cellular phone caused RT t...
Show BibTeX
@article{w_2003_effect_of_cellular_telephone_1991,
author = {Consiglio W and Driscoll P and Witte M and Berg WP.},
title = {Effect of cellular telephone conversations and other potential interference on reaction time in a braking response.},
year = {2003},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12729813/},
}