Dyslexia and Driving
Discussion
Taken from the Telegraph!
Dyslexia 'worse for drivers than drink'
By Nic Fleming, Science Correspondent
(Filed: 03/02/2005)
Dyslexia slows a driver's reactions far more than drinking two pints of beer, new research suggests.
A study that compared the reaction times of drivers showed that dyslexics took on average between 22 and 32 per cent longer to react to traffic signals than a control group.
The controversial finding, published in today's New Scientist magazine, will raise questions about whether those who suffer from the condition, characterised by reading and writing difficulties, should face extra tests before being granted a driving licence.
Hermundur Sigmundsson, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, gave 17 volunteers, including six who were dyslexic, tests to simulate driving along a country road and through a town at lower speeds.
Traffic signals were flashed up by the simulator and the time taken for the "driver" to respond, by pressing a button, was measured.
The control group took an average of around 0.6 seconds to respond to the signals. Those with dyslexia took on average 0.13 seconds, or 22 per cent slower in the rural simulation, and 0.19 seconds, or 32 per cent slower in the urban setting.
Drivers who have consumed two pints of beer - one-and-a-half pints is about the legal limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - typically have reaction times 10 per cent slower than normal.
Carol Youngs, the policy director at the British Dyslexia Association, dismissed any suggestion that those suffering from the condition should face extra hurdles before they obtained a driving licence.
"Everyone has to do their driving test including a theory test which already puts dyslexics at a disadvantage because they have problems with the written word rather than symbols and signs."
Dyslexia 'worse for drivers than drink'
By Nic Fleming, Science Correspondent
(Filed: 03/02/2005)
Dyslexia slows a driver's reactions far more than drinking two pints of beer, new research suggests.
A study that compared the reaction times of drivers showed that dyslexics took on average between 22 and 32 per cent longer to react to traffic signals than a control group.
The controversial finding, published in today's New Scientist magazine, will raise questions about whether those who suffer from the condition, characterised by reading and writing difficulties, should face extra tests before being granted a driving licence.
Hermundur Sigmundsson, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, gave 17 volunteers, including six who were dyslexic, tests to simulate driving along a country road and through a town at lower speeds.
Traffic signals were flashed up by the simulator and the time taken for the "driver" to respond, by pressing a button, was measured.
The control group took an average of around 0.6 seconds to respond to the signals. Those with dyslexia took on average 0.13 seconds, or 22 per cent slower in the rural simulation, and 0.19 seconds, or 32 per cent slower in the urban setting.
Drivers who have consumed two pints of beer - one-and-a-half pints is about the legal limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - typically have reaction times 10 per cent slower than normal.
Carol Youngs, the policy director at the British Dyslexia Association, dismissed any suggestion that those suffering from the condition should face extra hurdles before they obtained a driving licence.
"Everyone has to do their driving test including a theory test which already puts dyslexics at a disadvantage because they have problems with the written word rather than symbols and signs."
Hmmm....... 
Given that i'm dyslexic as hell this 'll be why I'm only a Rocketing Rabbit on the Test Your Reactions sheep game that's somewhere on page two right now?
More scienseational recearch then.
Oh, how do they explain the reactions of Jackie Stewart then, seem to remember he used to have trouble spelling his own name at one time!
Given that i'm dyslexic as hell this 'll be why I'm only a Rocketing Rabbit on the Test Your Reactions sheep game that's somewhere on page two right now?
More scienseational recearch then.
Oh, how do they explain the reactions of Jackie Stewart then, seem to remember he used to have trouble spelling his own name at one time!
rude-boy said:Indeed. Jackie Stewart, patron saint of dyslexics.
Oh, how do they explain the reactions of Jackie Stewart then, seem to remember he used to have trouble spelling his own name at one time!
Incidentally, don't you think it is somewhat cruel that the word 'dyslexia' is so difficult to spell?
Hi,
I think that this needs a letter to the Telegraph and a read of the article in New Scientist as I find it astounding that a publication that aims to be reasonably well informed scientific gernal can publish an article like this with a sample size of 17 people even anty aging cream advertises have the decency to use 100 people or there about.
Being dyslexic my sell this sort of c*** pises me off do a study if you whant but lets have a decent scientific approach used and lets also fined out what the real differences are both positive and negative. Then lets use this information to help people with the problem i.e. school children while they are young. So the we don’t give more people a chip on the shoulder the size of the US like me.
Indecently I now have a degree in computer and electrical engendering and I did enjoy going back to tell the teachers who said I would never do any thing.
I think that this needs a letter to the Telegraph and a read of the article in New Scientist as I find it astounding that a publication that aims to be reasonably well informed scientific gernal can publish an article like this with a sample size of 17 people even anty aging cream advertises have the decency to use 100 people or there about.
Being dyslexic my sell this sort of c*** pises me off do a study if you whant but lets have a decent scientific approach used and lets also fined out what the real differences are both positive and negative. Then lets use this information to help people with the problem i.e. school children while they are young. So the we don’t give more people a chip on the shoulder the size of the US like me.
Indecently I now have a degree in computer and electrical engendering and I did enjoy going back to tell the teachers who said I would never do any thing.
My anecdotal evidence from teaching folk to drive is...........no problem with their reaction times. Admittedly my dyslexics included an international standard gymnast and some top notch sportsmen.
BUT - I did detect a potential pitfall. Not being able to read signs easily was very distracting to them and in their confusion they were more liable to take too much time out not thinking about the physical act of driving.
£00.02 to you, squire
BUT - I did detect a potential pitfall. Not being able to read signs easily was very distracting to them and in their confusion they were more liable to take too much time out not thinking about the physical act of driving.
£00.02 to you, squire
17 was the trojan number (a pretty poor attempt at one I think).
Just 6 of the 'subjects' were dyslexic, allegedly.
In real driving it would not matter at all I reckon.
In the overmanaged, over instructed and over signed environment we have to work with these days I suppose it is possible to manufacture such results.
If anything it is a good argument to support the 'emerging' 'naked street' concept. Maybe the guy who devised that is dyslexic?
Jackie Stewart is a perfect example of how many, maybe all, dyslexia influenced individuals overcome their perceived limitations by use of memory rather than documented reference. Maybe that helped him to be so quick around the 'Ring by remembering the inputs so well, due to a naturally developed heightened memory function, that he could recall the sequence of the track more confidently then most - even in mist and rain.
That's just a theory of course. On the other hand 3 more examples and I could probably get Naff Scientist to publish it!
Just 6 of the 'subjects' were dyslexic, allegedly.
In real driving it would not matter at all I reckon.
In the overmanaged, over instructed and over signed environment we have to work with these days I suppose it is possible to manufacture such results.
If anything it is a good argument to support the 'emerging' 'naked street' concept. Maybe the guy who devised that is dyslexic?
Jackie Stewart is a perfect example of how many, maybe all, dyslexia influenced individuals overcome their perceived limitations by use of memory rather than documented reference. Maybe that helped him to be so quick around the 'Ring by remembering the inputs so well, due to a naturally developed heightened memory function, that he could recall the sequence of the track more confidently then most - even in mist and rain.
That's just a theory of course. On the other hand 3 more examples and I could probably get Naff Scientist to publish it!
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff