Measure Your Driver Distraction

The New York Times ran an in-depth article on the consequences of distracted driving accompanied by a “game” that gauges how texting impacts your ability to drive. Using a series of virtual tollbooths and a virtual smart phone, users try to answer text messages while navigating the tollbooths. It’s a simple game, but it quickly becomes evident that even a one-word answer increases reaction time.

The average user was registering a reaction time .24 seconds slower than normal when we tested it. While it’s a good tool, something more realistic like noticing brake lights might resonate with more drivers.