Impact of noise on school bus drivers’ visual reaction time: An experimental approach with road safety implications <i>Noise and Reaction Time</i>

BackgroundFast reaction time is essential for safe and effective driving.ObjectiveThe objective of this research was to ascertain the visual reaction time of school bus drivers and the effect of additional noise on this time.Methods28 volunteer professional school bus drivers were included in the study. Each participant was in both the experimental and control groups. Vehicle simulation was used to determine the reaction time of the participants. The participants' throttle response time was measured in the presence and absence of an 85 dBA (A-weighted decibels) supplemental noise. The Wilcoxon rank-order sign test and linear mixed-effects regression models were used for the statistical analysis.ResultsThe reaction time of the participants without additional noise was calculated to be 0.10 ± 0.02 (0.06-0.15 s). It was found that the noise statistically increased the reaction time of the participants.ConclusionsThe additional noise in the vehicle has been shown to have a detrimental effect on the reaction time of school bus drivers, thereby impacting their cognitive functions. The findings emphasise the practical significance of noise control strategies in both occupational and transportation contexts, with the objective of enhancing safety and cognitive efficiency.