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Hands‐free mobile phone conversation impairs the peripheral visual system to an extent comparable to an alcohol level of 4–5 g 100 ml

This letter to the editor presents a study which investigated whether a driver's visual field is influenced by everyday occurrences that might take place while driving a motor vehicle. Two situations that might reduce a driver's visual field are driving under the influence of low-dose alcohol and holding a conversation while driving. The study attempted to investigate the effects of both of these situations on the peripheral visual system and also investigated possible interactions with driving ability. The peripheral vision reaction time of 60 persons was measured using the peripheral vision test by Schuhfried. The difference between the control group with greater driving experience and the conversation group with less experience was highly significant. Holding a conversation while driving a car reduces the peripheral visual field. The same effect can be observed in persons under the influence of a low-dose of alcohol and in both cases the effect is enhanced when the individual also has limited driving experience.