Effects of Visual Distraction on Reaction Time in a Simulated Traffic Environment

See this work in the Center for Transportation Research Library catalog: https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/Presto/catalogid=5763Existing 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.Texas Office of Traffic Safety, State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (Austin, Texas)Center for Transportation ResearchSee this work in the Center for Transportation Research Library catalog