Braking Distance and Reaction Time Unchanged Across Hand-Use Conditions in Healthy Volunteers

Purpose The purpose of this study was to utilize driving simulator technology to evaluate braking time and distance, controlling for variables such as hand dominance and single versus both hand use. Methods This prospective observational study included healthy volunteers aged 18 and older with no recent upper extremity surgery. Data collected included age, hand dominance, and driving experience. Braking distance and reaction time were measured using Carnetsoft driving simulator software (Groningen, the Netherlands). The participants were instructed to use both hands, their dominant hand, or their non-dominant hand for each trial, accelerating to 60 miles per hour (mph) and decelerating to a stop, with 15 trials per participant, five per hand position. Linear mixed models were used to assess the association between hand use and braking time, accounting for multiple trials. Results Thirty-three healthy volunteers participated in this study. No statistically significant differences were observed in acceleration reaction time, brake reaction time, stop reaction time, or braking distance across the hand-use conditions, both hands, dominant hand, and non-dominant hand. Conclusion This study suggests that hand positioning does not significantly impact braking performance in healthy individuals under the conditions tested. This study highlights the potential use of driving simulators for evaluating specific driving abilities, which could inform rehabilitation and clinical assessments for individuals recovering from upper extremity surgeries, particularly as driver-assistive technologies evolve.