Drivers’ ability to react quickly plays an important role in preventing auto accidents.
It is extremely important for drivers to be alert to potential road hazards when driving. This includes dangerous road conditions as well as dangerous driving on the part of other motorists. Thanks to the brain’s amazingly fast reaction time, many accidents are actually prevented every day. Read on to learn more about brain reaction time and how it affects traffic accidents.
What Happens in the Brain?
The first thing that happens is that the brain perceives and processes the risk. This step, called mental processing time, can actually be broken down further into the following stages:
- Sensation—the time it takes to sense a risk
- Perception—the time it takes to recognize what the risk is
- Situational awareness—the time it takes to put the risk in context
- Response selection—the time it takes to decide what to do to avoid the risk
Once a response has been chosen, the brain still has to tell the body to carry out the physical actions necessary for the response, such as turning the wheel, applying the brakes, etc. Then, there may be an additional delay as the mechanics of the car work to actually carry out that evasive action and hopefully avoid the accident.
What Factors Affect Brain Reaction Time?
For many years, the average brain reaction time for a normal driver was said to be about three-quarters of a second. However, more recent research has shown that a normal reaction time is more likely to be at least a full second.
Factors that can increase brain reaction time further include:
- Personal characteristics of the driver
- Blood alcohol
- Drug use (including legal medications)
- Drowsiness
- Visual distraction (eyes not on road)
Some studies have shown that texting while driving slows brain reaction time almost as much as being intoxicated. Why? Because most of our attention is directed where our eyes look. The ability to perceive threats with peripheral vision as opposed to foveal (straight on) vision is relatively weak.
Every Second Matters!
Every fraction of a second longer that brain reaction time takes, the greater the risk that the accident will not be avoided. Bear in mind that when driving at 65 mph, your car will travel over 70 feet during the three-quarters of a second, best case scenario for brain reaction time. If you hit the brakes right then, it will still take another 0.3 seconds and 28 feet for them to take effect and another 288 feet to stop on a good, dry road.
Impaired Brain Reaction Time and Car Accident Injuries
Many car accidents are caused by distracted drivers failing to respond properly to various events. For example, a driver may rear end you because they did not react quickly enough upon seeing your brake lights or turn signal. When this happens, you should be able to prove liability for the accident fairly easily and secure compensation for your injuries with the help of an experienced auto accident injury attorney.