Effect of Visual Distraction on Driving Performance: Driving Simulator Experiment

The present study is aimed to investigate how visual distraction would influence driving performance. Forty-five young drivers completed two trials of a simulated drive; each trial was conducted without billboards (not distracted) and with watching billboards (distracted). The simulator recorded various important driving parameters like lane position, speed control, steering, signs, car following, priority and lane change. Results revealed that drivers were more likely to make mistakes when watching billboards. Watching billboards while driving is associated with a significant increase in errors related to exceeding the speed limit and steering. An increase in temporal demand, performance and effort of workload rating was observed while watching billboards and driving. Results suggest that watching billboards alters driving performance and impairs vehicle speed perception while increasing the subjective mental workload. © 2023. Carbon Magics Ltd.