A study was reported on ABC News today that found no difference in the level of distraction caused by manual texting or voice-to-text messaging. The study was conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and funded by the US Dept. of Transportation Research and Innovative Technology Administration.
The researchers took 43 research participants and put them on a closed course to drive an actual vehicle, a method which, according to ABC News, has never been done before. Each participant drove the course four times: the first time without any texting, once with Siri voice-to-text, once with Android Vlingo voice-to-text, and finally while texting manually. The researchers observed how long each texting method took, and also how quickly the drivers responded to randomly placed lights on the course.
The researchers found that each texting method delayed the drivers' reaction times, all about double what their reaction time was in the control.
What I found most surprising is that the drivers spent "significant" amounts of time not looking at the road regardless of which texting method they were using. I suppose that looking up at the road while composing a text out loud isn't the same as really watching the road, but I still find it surprising enough to hope for further study and replication. Another unexpected result was that the voice-to-text texters took longer to complete their message than manual texters. I would have thought that speaking a message out loud would be much quicker than typing it, but maybe the participants also had to set up the voice-to-text application and send the message to the right person.
I also wonder what the participants were asked to text--if they were assigned a message, in order to standardize the lengths of the messages, or if they were allowed to send anything they liked. I would guess that it takes more attention trying to dictate or type words that are not your own, but I couldn't say how significant that difference is.
However, of course the most suspect part of this study is its funding source and timing, being published during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, at the same time that the Texas DOT is sponsoring anti-distracted driving promotion and advertisement.
Thankfully, the ABC News article reported this study well, including the timing and funding issues, and also included the study manager's statement that “Understanding the distracted driving issue is an evolving process, and
this study is but one step in that process...We believe it’s a
useful step, and we’re eager to see what other studies may find.”
The inclusion of this statement, saying that this study is just one step of many to be taken, and not the source of every right answer we've ever been looking for, is refreshing after so many overzealous media blowups about studies similar to this one, that have counterintuitive and/or surprising conclusions and real-life effects on the safety of many Americans.
http://www.abcnews4.com/story/22059954/voice-to-text-apps-offer-no-driving-safety-benefit-as-with-manual-texting-reaction-times-double-according-to-texas-am-transportation-institute
I wonder why there was ever any doubt that mentally distracting yourself took away from driving ability. Having just made the treacherous morning commute across town while viewing drivers: texting, putting on makeup, talking on the phone, surfing the internet, etc., it is a miracle that there are not more accidents daily.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this. I find myself increasingly worried about family members who text and drive. They always say 'oh I'm at a red light' or other excuses that are supposed to make things better. Its all the same!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this article very much. I agree that it is a step that shows the dangers of texting and driving. It is a bit suprising that the voice to text took longer to complete a text than manual, especially because most people would think it would be safer. One of the reasons it might take longer is that the text doesn't always match the words one says. The driver may have to look and correct the text seeing the wrong words on the screen.
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