Study Confirms Mobile Phones Distract Drivers

An anonymous reader notes a Reuters report of a study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, confirming that Mobile phone calls distract drivers far more than even the chattiest passenger, causing drivers to follow too closely and miss exits. California's ban on using a handheld cell phone while driving, which went into effect last summer, is looking less than fully effective. A handful of other states have instituted similar bans, but none has forbidden driving while talking on a cell phone at all. "Using a hands-free device does not make things better and the researchers believe they know why — passengers act as a second set of eyes, shutting up or sometimes even helping when they see the driver needs to make a maneuver."

Comments

This just in.

[stei7766]

Sleeping at the wheel found to correspond to an increase in accidents.

Any bet takers?

[grub]

How long until the first news of an iPhone/Blackberry using driver who, upon a collision, is killed when the airbag drives the smartphone through their brain? Has it already happened?

Re:Any bet takers?

[cbiltcliffe]

That would require the driver in question to have a brain in the first place. I've noticed most (not all) self-important Crackberry-toting snobs do not.

Money Well Spent.

[senorpoco]

In an other shocking study released today, one legged men consistently fared worse than two legged opponents in ass kicking contests.

Re:As bluetooth headset manufacturers rake it in..

[internerdj]

UnLmtd Txt Plns 4 nVstng

Time to hang up the phone

[Smuttley]

Because at least then I have a free hand to hold the steering wheel whilst I'm smoking a cigarette/eating some food/applying my makeup.

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[HTH NE1]

Anyone know of any studies using fMRI or the like which suggest such a thing?

I suspect any study would confirm that driving whilst undergoing an fMRI scan is extremely dangerous and distracting.

How are you supposed to check your wing mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes if you can't move your head?

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[QuantumG]

Prioritizing the driving is a simple as ignoring the conversation when required.

So you're saying married men are better phoning drivers?

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[stei7766]

Basically all of these "compared to passengers" arguments are null and void when it comes to children in the backseat. Should we ban driving with children in the car? They won't help with directions or know not to distract the driver.

Nope. Just require them to ride in the trunk.

Re:Which makes our laws all the more peculiar

[Onymous Coward]

This legislation brought to you by the California Bluetooth Vendors Association.

Re:well duh...

[Kippesoep]

People need tech support with that?

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[amRadioHed]

I don't think voice recognition would help that much. What would be helpful is voice recognition which allows the phone to response with a prerecorded "Yes, dear" or "No, dear" when appropriate.

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[sexconker]

I pray to god you don't work in the medical industry.

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[Anonymous Coward]

Or, "Ok, I've got a few minutes until the ambulance gets here."

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[Smallpond]

You must be easily surprised. The users I talk to are trying to type the backslash by tilting the keyboard to the left.

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[Anonymous Coward]

I've never heard such rubbish. Why, I'm texting this on my Treo this second and [NO CARRIER]

Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving

[Dare nMc]

Don't forget blind people, what would the ADA say about banning talking to children and blind people while driving?