A growing stream of research suggests text messaging (short messaging service, SMS) while driving severely impairs driver performance.1 SMS while operating a motor vehicle is categorized as a dual-task condition in which a driver’s cognitive performance and psychomotor vigilance is divided between driving and engaging in text messaging. Among distracted driving behaviors, SMS appears consistent with a switching model of cognitive processing.1 Under this framework, attention is largely allocated either to driving or to SMS. Alternatively, distracted driving behaviors, such as mobile phone conversations, appear to divert attention more evenly between driving and the distracting behavior.2 Given the demanding nature of SMS on cognitive resources and motor Issue 1 2012 2 control, researchers have suggested that text messaging while driving may be more hazardous than other distracted driving activities.
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