Effects of Mobile Phone Dependence on Driver Distraction

This study investigated the distracting effect that the mere presence of a mobile phone could have on simulated driving performance when drivers can hear a phone notification, but are unable to respond to it. A sample of 45 participants, categorized as either low or high mobile phone dependent, were randomly assigned to either a group that received a phone notification while driving in a simulator or to a control group. Both groups drove two scenarios, with the experimental group receiving, but not attending to, a phone call during the second scenario. Drivers who received the phone call veered off the road more often than drivers in the control group regardless of mobile phone dependency. Highly dependent drivers drove faster, were involved in more collisions, and drove over the centerline more frequently than less phone dependent drivers.