WASHINGTON - People who talk on cell phones while driving, even using "hands-free" devices, are as impaired as drunk drivers, researchers said Thursday.

"If legislators really want to address driver distraction, then they should consider outlawing cell phone use while driving," said Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Utah who worked on the study.

The researchers used a driving simulation device for their study, published in the summer 2006 issue of Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

They studied 40 volunteers who used a driving simulator four times — while undistracted, using a handheld cell phone, using a hands-free cell phone and while intoxicated to a 0.08 percent blood-alcohol level — the average legal level of impairment in the United States — after drinking vodka and orange juice.

Three study participants rear-ended the simulated car in front of them. All were talking on cellphones and none was drunk, the researchers said.

Motorists who talked on either handheld or hands-free cell phones drove slightly more slowly, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, and varied their speed more than undistracted drivers.

Drivers with an 0.08 percent blood-alcohol level drove a bit more slowly than both undistracted drivers and telephone users, yet more aggressively.

"Driving while talking on a cell phone is as bad as or maybe worse than driving drunk," said Drews, who said alcohol was involved in 40 percent of the 42,000 annual U.S. traffic fatalities.

Just like many people who have been drinking, the cell phone users did not believe themselves to be affected, the researchers found.

I must be talented.

Sam Adams in one hand and cell in the other.

Steer with the knee.......

I must be talented.

Sam Adams in one hand and cell in the other.

Steer with the knee.......

:bigthumb:

I dunno about outlawing them directly. My position on that has always been that it *should* be a common sense decision, not a legal one. I guess some people always screw it up for the rest of us.

I think people are just poor drivers to begin with, the cell phone may be just another tool that helps bring out the bad driving. If you are already a bad driver, you are gonna be worse when there is a distraction.

Example:

One day on the way from work, I was driving down i85, 3 lanes each direction. I received a call from my (now x) gf. I've always known about the "dangers" of driving while on the phone, so I avoid it when I can. When I do deem it necessary to drive while talking on the phone, I take extra care to pay more attention ( check mirrors, watch the road, etc). The point is, it's a concious effort to pay more attention. Anyway, so, I'm on the phone with her and driving in the middle lane. I check my mirrors and notice that I am about to be passed from the left AND the right. As they are going by me, they both go for the middle lane at the same time. That's dumb enough, but what makes it even worse, is the fact that NEITHER of them had fully passed me yet! They literally almost sandwiched me! I layed on the horn, hit the brakes, and was fortunately able to avoid and prevent a HUGE accident. All this while on the PHONE and "distracted"!!!

I dunno about outlawing them directly. My position on that has always been that it *should* be a common sense decision, not a legal one. I guess some people always screw it up for the rest of us.

+1

Some people can drive while on the phone. I've seen some of my friends do it well.

I know that I personally, cannot. So I dont. :-p

I must be talented.

Sam Adams in one hand and cell in the other.

Steer with the knee.......
what happened tot he early-morning-late-to-work shave? i was driving to school today to pick programs up and i saw this dude in a giant econo van shaving and reading the news paper at the same time while driving... some how he managed to make a right turn with his knees or something....

i've seen gals put make up on and guys read newspapers.

+1

Some people can drive while on the phone. I've seen some of my friends do it well.

I know that I personally, cannot. So I dont. :-p
See! personal, easy, common sense decision. No laws needed! I think the law should be "that all people lacking common sense be permanently banned from the roads"!!!!! Just think of all the unneccessary accidents and deaths that could be avoided!

Think of the rising speed limits, the fact that 90% of the people were off the roads, the reduction in "No turn on red" signs, the turning of many stoplights and signs into yeild signs . . . *drool*

I must be talented.

Sam Adams in one hand and cell in the other.

Steer with the knee.......

How about a Samuel Jackson?

http://harrisonchappelle.tripod.com/Images/samuel.jpg

I have three buttons on the side of my phone. The top and bottom ones silence the call and send it to voicemail. The middle one will answer if I have a HF device attached.

I don't talk and drive, unless there's zero traffic near me.

I hate how people think that just because they *can* use a cellphone somewhere, they somehow *need* to use it there. Restaurants, cars, standing in line for something, in public restrooms... I hate that shit.

Think of the rising speed limits, the fact that 90% of the people were off the roads, the reduction in "No turn on red" signs, the turning of many stoplights and signs into yeild signs . . . *drool*
Add to that the fact that rice would practically disappear!!!!!

Traffic would be dramatically reduced, but not by too much due to the increased demand in mass transit! BUSSES! Hey! We just solved two crisis'! 1.) idiots on the road, and 2.) oil "shortage"!!!!!!!!!

I am soooo good ;) :) ;) :) ;)

I hate how people think that just because they *can* use a cellphone somewhere, they somehow *need* to use it there. Restaurants, cars, standing in line for something, in public restrooms... I hate that shit.
I am waiting for the day that one of those bastards drops his phone in the urinal. I swear, if I ever see that happen, I will point my finger and LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!