Background: In India, there is at least one death for every 4 min due to road traffic accidents (RTAs) (1.37, 423 deaths in a year), of which 77.5% are due to fault of drivers. Many vehicles are equipped with high volume speakers and Bluetooth hands-free devices. Furthermore, pedestrians and two-wheeler drivers use headset or Bluetooth connected to phones or MP3 players. These may decrease visual, mechanical, and cognitive abilities. Indias contribution to global RTAs is around 10%, despite very few studies were done in this regard (World Health Organization, 2004).
Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to find the independent relation between listening to loud music and active telephonic conversation on simple visual reaction time (VRT).
Materials and Methods: A total of 40 healthy, male subjects within the age group of 2025 years are recruited in the study. VRT is estimated using Gary-Darby RT software, version-V4.03. Subjects are tested without any distractions and then while engaging in active telephonic conversation using hands-free device and finally are tested while listening to their favorite music at high volume.
Results: Statistical analysis was performed by student t-test and P ˂ 0.05 is considered as statistically significant. Mean average VRT and mean longest VRT without distractions are 0.32 ± 0.08 and 0.41 ± 0.13, with active telephonic conversation are 0.70 ± 0.23 and 1.10 ± 0.44, and with loud music are 0.34 ± 0.06 and 0.44 ± 0.09, respectively.
Conclusion: Active telephonic conversation is significantly affecting VRT and hence driving ability. The effect of loud music on VRT is not significant; more research is required in this regard to other thought process such as choice RT, emotion, and judgment.
Key words: Visual Reaction Time; Active Telephonic Conversation; Music; Bluetooth Hands Free
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