While texting behind the wheel is a major concern for younger drivers, a new study finds that this may be a bigger issue for older drivers.
The study involved 50 men and women aged 18 to 59, and the participants took computerized road tests in a four-door, fully-outfitted driving simulator, which took them on a virtual two-lane road without stop signs, stop lights or oncoming cars in the other lane, according to Newsmax.com. Participants drove for a half-hour, several minutes of which they drove at about 50 to 60 miles per hour while briefly texting someone with one hand.
The volunteers were put into four categories based on age: 18 to 24, 25 to 34, 35 to 44 and 45 to 59. Seven of them said they had limited texting abilities, such as typing with one finger while looking for keys. Sixteen said they had good texting skills, but mostly did it with two hands and 27 were categorized as "skilled" texters, which meant they could send messages with one hand easily.
The researchers found that two-thirds of the drivers crossed into another lane with oncoming traffic or onto a shoulder, which are also known as "lane excursions." Lane excursions were committed by almost everyone in the 45 to 59 age group, while only one-quarter of the 18 to 24 group committed them, Newsmax.com reported. Forty percent of the 25 to 34 group and 80 percent of 35 to 44 group had committed lane excursions.
These findings suggest that people tend to lose their ability to handle texting while driving as they get older. While no exact reason for this has been found, the researchers believe it may be because older drivers might look at their phones for longer periods of time, and that these drivers aren't as good at multitasking as younger drivers.
"The findings were very surprising to us," said study co-author Randall Commissaris, an associate professor in the department of pharmaceutical sciences at Wayne State University in Detroit, "because most of the literature on distracted driving suggests that mature drivers are better able to manage distractions. Whether it's being involved in a cellphone conversation, talking with passengers, or checking maps."
Commissaris emphasized that while the study doesn't intend to take attention away from the issue of younger drivers texting while behind the wheel, there are more people texting now than before, and older drivers can make just as many mistakes with managing the texting distraction as young drivers do, Newsmax.com reported. He also proposed that drivers of all ages make a personal New Year's resolution to stop texting and driving.
"Because the reality is that the text you're sending isn't all that important, particularly if that text ends up as part of an auto crash," Commissaris said.
The study was published in the January issue of Accident Analysis and Prevention.
