Cellphone Usage and Attention While Driving Essay

The Impact of Cellphone Use on Driving

The use of the cellphone while driving has attributed to "2600 deaths, 330,000 injuries, and 1.5 million instances of property damage in the United States each year" (Anderson, 2014). Cell phone distraction, including hands-free phones, lead to missing of traffic lights and other critical information as compared to listening to radio or books on tape. A driver's participation in a conversation draws more attention to the central cognition (Strayer & Drews, 2007). However, conversing with a passenger does not lead to great levels of distraction as compared to conversing over the cellphone as a passenger can better adjust to the driving conditions while being driven and also assist the driver in times of need.

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Comparing Conversing with Passengers and Conversing over Cellphones

Cognitive distractions appear to happen when a person's mind is not on driving. This may occur commonly when thoughts cross a driver's mind shifting the attention of the driver on something else besides eyes focused ahead and the hands on the wheel. These distractions may happen when there is an argument or a discussion. On the other hand, visual distractions happen when there is a shift in focus aside from the road. Physical distractions also happen when there is a shift in focus aside from the steering. The use of cellphones has always been dangerous as it involves all three types of distractions. Using the cellphone involves having the eyes and hands on the phone, hence, physical and visual distractions. Additionally, talking over the cell phone involves cognitive distractions as one may tend to think about the conversation one is having instead of whatever is happening around them (Roeske, 2013).

Accidents and the resulting damages happening as a result of distracted driving are far more severe as compared to other types of accidents. Conversing over the cellphone, or even texting, may alter the way a driver reacts to driving situations. Both teenagers and adults are prone to cognitive distractions and the increase in driving while texting cannot be attributed to ignorance. Many of the present drivers, even those driving heavy vehicles, and commercial buses, are guilty of driving while using their cellphones.

Inattention Blindness and Cognitive Capture

Cognitive driving distractions may also arise from talking to another passenger beside thinking about something else and daydreaming. However, this does not cause an intense distraction as the use of cellphone leads to long periods of disengagement from one action to another. When talking to a passenger, one may still concentrate on the road but when talking over the cellphone, the recipient may not be aware of the situation hence cognitive distraction. The use of cellphone reduces the field of vision of a driver, creating a cone-like vision besides creating a cognitive load. This load is such that it may likely lead to lower chances of detecting and reacting to the appearance of new objects. When talking to a passenger, the conversation may be perceived as effortless even though may be more complex than thought. Many passengers tend to keep the driver alert and tag along dangerous conditions and also become quieter in heavy traffic hence, keeping the driver adjusted to the driving conditions. During the various conversations, the brain tends to absorb information, overlaying whatever one knows and what they do not know and eventually start constructing the best reply for the situation (Stewart, 2015). Drivers with poor mental and visual disabilities tend to take longer to switch their attention from one situation to the next as compared to drivers with diminished vision. Conversing over the cellphone demands active listening, which in turn delays the disengagement of attention when trying to shift ideas from one to the next. Therefore, a passenger may be keeping the driver alert in various situations, reducing chances of an accident as compared to using cell phones.

Addressing Cognitive Distraction: Avoidance and Hands-Free Devices

Texting while driving has similar effects to having a conversation over the cellphone while driving. However, texting may lead to much greater effects as compared to having a conversation. Texting leads to the lagging of eye movements hence, visual distraction. As one text behind the wheel, they tend to be off the steering and engage their mind, hence, creating a situation of active participation by the brains. The result of texting while driving is inattention blindness, which can be seen as a psychological issue that results from lack of attention to unexpected external stimulus. This can be seen when such drivers fail to see objects or occurrences ahead of them because of their focus on the cellphone. One of such an instance is failing to see a car braking right in front of the driver or even the failure to see a pedestrian cross the road. Inattention blindness can be related to the effects of cognitive capture. Aside from texting, having a conversation can also lead to this condition as the driver can be too focused on the tasks involving being lost in internal thoughts.

There could be no possible evidence that can curb mental distraction of cellphone use with practice hence; its avoidance can lower the chances of cognitive distraction. This may, in turn, lead to fewer accidents as a result of distracted driving. Hands-free devices are not an exception to cognitive disruption. However, they may be safer compared to hands-on devices.

References

Anderson, J. R. (2014). Cognitive psychology and its implications. New York: Worth.

Stewart, G. B. (2015). Cell phones and distracted driving. San Diego, CA: Reference Point Press.

Strayer, D. L., & Drews, F. A. (2007). Cell-phone-induced driver distraction. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16, 128-131.