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Car Talk: Contentious Conversations Drive Distraction
Engaging in a heated, emotional discussion with a passenger can turn into a dangerous distraction for drivers.
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Higher Status People Are Meaner Drivers
Frustrated drivers are more likely to lash out aggressively at vehicles they perceive as having a lower social status.
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Is Your Steering Wheel in Safe Hands?
Changes to the way drivers’ position their hands on the steering wheel may be a useful proxy for detecting perceptions of risk and cognitive demand.
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Some Brains Have a Motion Blind Spot
A surprisingly high proportion of people may have a form of motion blindness in which sensory information about moving objects is not properly interpreted by the brain.
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The Upside of a Long Commute? Time to Think
According to a 2011 report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, it takes the average commuter about 38 minutes to reach their workplace. This means the average commuter spends almost 300 hours each year just getting to and from work. Research has shown that long commutes have a negative impact on many aspects of life, from mental health and blood pressure to divorce rates. Commuting is such a negative experience that, according to a recent analysis conducted by FiveThirtyEight, New Yorkers are willing to shell out an extra $56 a month to cut their commuting time by just one minute.
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Does Hot Weather Fuel Road Rage?
Hot weather seems to amplify people’s responses to provocation, ultimately increasing rates of aggressive behavior and violence.
