It has been shown that texting degrades driving performance, but the extent to which this is mediated by the driver’s age and postural stability has not been addressed. Hence, the present study examined the effects of texting, sitting surface stability, and balance training in young and older adults’ driving performance. Fifteen young (mean age = 24.3 years) and 13 older (mean age = 62.8 years) participants were tested in a driving simulator with and without texting on a smartphone and while sitting on a stable or unstable surface (i.e., a plastic wobble board), before and after a 30-min sitting balance training. Analyses of variance showed that texting deteriorated driving performance but irrespective of sitting surface stability. Balance training decreased the negative effects of texting on driving, especially in older adults. Perceived workload increased when drivers were texting, and balance training reduced perceived workload. Perceived workload was higher while sitting on the unstable surface, but less so after balance training. Path analyses showed that the effects on driving performance and perceived workload were (indirectly) associated with changes in postural stability (i.e., postural sway). The study confirms that texting threatens safe driving performance by challenging postural stability, especially in older adults. The study also suggests that it is important to further investigate the role balance training can play in reducing these negative effects of texting.

已经显示，发短信会降低驾驶性能，但是这种程度在很大程度上取决于驾驶员的年龄和姿势稳定性。因此，本研究研究了发短信，坐面稳定性和平衡训练对年轻人和老年人驾驶性能的影响。十五名年轻（平均年龄= 24.3岁）和十三岁（平均年龄= 62.8岁）参与者在驾驶模拟器上进行了测试，无论是否在智能手机上发短信，并且坐在稳定或不稳定的表面（例如，塑料摆盘） ，在进行30分钟的坐姿平衡训练之前和之后。方差分析表明，发短信会降低驾驶性能，但与坐面稳定性无关。平衡训练减少了发短信对驾驶的负面影响，尤其是在老年人中。当驾驶员发短信时，可感知的工作量增加，而平衡训练可减少可感知的工作量。坐在不稳定的地面上时，感知的工作量较高，但在进行平衡训练后，感知的工作量则较小。路径分析表明，对驾驶性能和工作量的影响（间接）与姿势稳定性的变化（即姿势摇摆）相关。该研究证实，发短信会挑战姿势稳定性，从而威胁安全驾驶性能，尤其是在老年人中。这项研究还表明，进一步研究平衡训练在减少发短信的负面影响中的作用也很重要。路径分析表明，对驾驶性能和工作量的影响（间接）与姿势稳定性的变化（即姿势摇摆）相关。该研究证实，发短信会挑战姿势稳定性，从而威胁安全驾驶性能，尤其是在老年人中。这项研究还表明，进一步研究平衡训练在减少发短信的负面影响中的作用也很重要。路径分析表明，对驾驶性能和工作量的影响（间接）与姿势稳定性的变化（即姿势摇摆）相关。该研究证实，发短信会挑战姿势稳定性，从而威胁安全驾驶性能，尤其是在老年人中。这项研究还表明，进一步研究平衡训练在减少发短信的负面影响中的作用也很重要。