The Extent of Distraction of Cell Phone Conversations for Passengers in Simulated Flight

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Currently, passengers are forbidden from making cell phone calls during flights in the United States due to safety concerns. However, some related research has demonstrated that the interference of cell phone use with avionics and ground network is minimal or can be eliminated by using modern technology. Although conversing on the cell phone does not cause electronic interference, the distraction of a passenger caused by a cell phone may negatively impact safety. The cell phone calls have been found to affect people’s attention and performance. In-flight announcements are popular methods to inform commercial airliner passengers of their situation and aircraft’s status. If a passenger’s attention is distracted from the announcements by the phone call, it would inhibit the passenger from being aware of important information. The purpose of this study was to compare the extent of safety compliance (checking seatbelts, raising tray tables) and retention of announcements among three groups: cell phone conversation, face-to-face conversation (i.e., talking with the passenger next to them), and control. Findings revealed that the cell phone group and the face-to-face group recalled less information from safety announcement and complied with safety behaviors to a lesser degree than the control group. The face-to-face group was not safer than the cell phone group on any measure. Lifting the cell phone ban should be considered. Additional research in regard to safety implications of passengers engaged in conversation warrants further study.

Authors

• Li, Tianhua Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Dattel, Andrew R., Ph.D. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Davis, Amber Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Babin, Andrey Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Melendez, Stefan Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Yang, Qianru Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Chen, Jie Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Cabin safety
• Situation awareness
• Cell phone use