Study: Drivers on cells more likely to crash
I'm not sure what's more alarming. The fact that we needed an official study to figure this out or that "hands-free" phones are of no benefit to making driving "safer" while being in a cellphone conversation while driving.
It's almost as if driving an automobile is a bit more mentally involving than walking or chewing gum.
No, that's not a formal hypothesis and, despite the fact that some agencies (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) are interested in throwing money away for such research, there is no formal experiment or survey planned.
Posted by languorous at July 13, 2005 11:49 AMAs far as I am concerned, cell phones have never caused a crash, PEOPLE do. Cell phones are no more dangerous than eating, putting make-up on, trying to read directions, listening to very loud music, CB-radios in Big Rigs, etc. This is all a bunch of bullshit, in the sense that, Some drivers can handle talking on their phone and lose very little concentration on the road, while others it may severely inhibit others.
What are we gonna do, outlaw the Burger King Whopper in the car as well? Shall we have a law that everyone has to use EZ pass because getting money out of their wallet is a distraction? My hypothesis is that the people who have problems multitasking, are probably not very good drivers even when totally focused.
The hands free bit doesnt surprise me that much, because how long does it take you to hit the speed dial on your phone to dial a number? Most americans are driving automatics (cause we are all big wusses and want EVERYTHING done for us) so its not like you REALLY need more than one hand to drive.
Later Gator!
Posted by: Jon at July 14, 2005 12:27 PM