Effects of Cell Phone Conversations on Younger and Older Drivers

Abstract

Our research examined the effects of hands-free cell phone conversations on simulated driving. We found that driving performance of both younger and older adults was impaired by cell phone conversations. Compared to single-task conditions, cell-phone drivers' reactions were 18% slower, their following distance was 12% greater, and they took 17% longer to recover the speed that was lost following braking. These cell-phone induced impairments were equivalent for younger and older adults, suggesting that older adults do not suffer a significantly greater penalty for talking on a cell phone while driving than their younger counterparts. Interestingly, the net effect of having younger drivers converse on a cell phone was to make their braking reactions equivalent to those of older drivers who were not using a cell phone.