Your Sixth Sense Won't Protect You if You Text and Drive

by ParentCo. May 13, 2016

While much has been made about the dangers of texting and driving, less attention has been focused on the age-old distractions of being absent minded or upset while driving. A team of researchers from the University of Houston (UH) and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) focused on all three of these important factors. Led by Ioannis Pavlidis from UH and Robert Wunderlich of TTI, the research studied how drivers behave when they are absent minded, emotionally charged or engaged in texting. ... In all three interventions -- absent minded, emotional and texting -- the researchers found that the drivers' handling of the wheel became jittery with respect to normal driving. This jittery handling resulted in significant lane deviations and unsafe driving only in the case of texting distractions. In the case of absent-minded and emotionally charged distractions, jittery steering resulted in straighter trajectories with respect to a normal drive and safer driving. "The driver's mind can wander and his or her feelings may boil, but a sixth sense keeps a person safe at least in terms of veering off course," Pavlidis said. "What makes texting so dangerous is that it wreaks havoc into this sixth sense. Self-driving cars may bypass this and other problems, but the moral of the story is that humans have their own auto systems that work wonders, until they break."
Source: 'Sixth sense' protects drivers except when texting -- ScienceDaily



ParentCo.

Author



Also in Conversations

two kids walking through a garden
3 Ways Your Kids Can Find Mindfulness Through Nature

by Sandi Schwartz

From visualizations to nature sound apps, there are so many ways to experience mindfulness using nature even from inside the comfort of your home.

Continue Reading

mother helping daughter brush her teeth
How New Parents Can Create - and Maintain - a Morning Routine

by Charlie Fletcher

A solid morning routine will ensure that everyone gets fed and changed at the right time, and will give you a chance to practice some (any!) self-care.

Continue Reading

3 Breathing Exercises to Calm Kids of All Ages
3 Breathing Exercises to Calm Kids of All Ages

by Sanya Pelini

Teaching kids to use these visual breathing exercises can help them learn to use breath effectively.

Continue Reading