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Study Confirms Mobile Phones Distract Drivers

Posted by kdawson on from the hang-up-and-drive dept.

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."

8 of 439 comments (clear)

  1. This just in. by stei7766 · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  2. Any bet takers? by grub · · Score: 4, Funny


    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?

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Any bet takers? by cbiltcliffe · · Score: 4, Funny

      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.

      --
      "City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
  3. Time to hang up the phone by Smuttley · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.

  4. Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    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?

    --
    Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
  5. Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Funny

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

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

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  6. Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving by stei7766 · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

  7. Re:talking on mobile as dangerous as drunk driving by sexconker · · Score: 5, Funny

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