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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."

3 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. 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.

  3. 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.