Taguchi techniques‐based study on the effect of mobile phone conversation on drivers' reaction time

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate application of the Taguchi method‐based conceptual signal‐to‐noise (S/N) approach and Pareto analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine optimum level of three important factors related to mobile phone conversation during driving, namely time of drive (day or night), distance between cars, and mobile phone call duration that minimizes drivers' reaction time (RT) in braking response.

Design/methodology/approach

Three levels of each factor based on the experience, are considered in the present study. The design of experiment, in the form of an L₁₈ orthogonal array, as proposed by Genichi Taguchi is used to conduct 18 experiments. A total of 27 young male subjects participated in the experimental study. The experimental task involved pressing the brake pedal of the car by the driver upon seeing another car in front while the driver is talking on a mobile phone. Drivers' performance, measured in terms of RT in braking response, is recorded. Conceptual S/N ratio and Pareto ANOVA are employed to investigate the drivers' performance.

Findings

Results show that within the test range, drivers' performance, i.e. RT in braking response is optimum (minimum) when they performed the driving task at day time, distance between cars is long (20 meters), and mobile phone call duration is short (30 seconds). Mobile call duration is found to be the dominant parameter with a percentage contribution ratio of 41.882 percent towards the laid down objective followed by time of driving, 32.003 percent and distance between cars, 1.353 percent.

Practical implications

This paper provides valuable information to the drivers with respect to the use of optimum level of these factors in order to minimize their RT in braking response.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has been conducted in the past to investigate the effect of these factors on the performance of drivers when they use mobile phones for conversation during driving. In addition, no attempt has yet been made to find the optimal level of these factors from drivers' performance in braking response view point. This paper is an original research work of authors and in the opinion it carries significantly important values as it provides new information to the persons who talk on mobile phones during driving.

Citation

Khan, Z.A. and Al‐Darrab, I.A. (2010), "Taguchi techniques‐based study on the effect of mobile phone conversation on drivers' reaction time", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 27 No. 1, pp. 63-77. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656711011009317