Divided attention in a reaction time index of traffic sign perception

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Abstract
Laboratory studies of traffic sign perception have often neglected to duplicate the divided attention demands of the driving task, even though it has been suggested that the inclusion of a loading task would increase the validity of such research. The present experiment examined the need for this division of attention by requiring subjects to identify traffic sign messages while performing a second, loading task involving the cognitive components of detection, identification or memory. A control group received no loading task. The reaction times to 16 signs were correlated with the legibility distances of the same signs measured in a previous roadway experiment. Contrary to the conclusion of Dewar el al. (1976) that a loading task may increase the validity of the reaction time index, the present study found no advantage to using a loading task in association with the reaction time measure of traffic sign perception.

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