Abstract
In this study, we examined the aftereffects of a train radio communication system, which is not relevant to the train driver's duties on their task performances. Participants (active train drivers) performed three visual tasks (signal monitoring, tracking, and mental calculations tasks) that which characterize train driving. In the experiments, the train radio was played in the background. We found that the participant's reaction time for signal monitoring was shorter after receiving information on the most important message related to the preceding train as compared to the case when messages related to the following train were transmitted. The results reveal that train drivers expect developmental events in the near future and crank up their arousal level after they receive important information about a preceding train, which is most likely to interfere with their own drive. This leads to an increase in their available attentional resource.
