[billallbritten]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13621877/

But then, I think most of us knew this from our own experience with drivers jabbering on the devices.

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[Brian Ratliff]

There you go. Here's for the people who wanted a direct comparison of phones to alcohol consumption.

It would be interesting to see the study and find out if 3 crashes (all with cell phones) out of 160 (40 people x 4) tests is statistically significant. But the ice has been broken, and it is just a matter of time and research monies to study the issue further.

[Helmet Head]

40 volunteers in simulators doesn't sound definitive, but if more studies have similar results, I'll be the first to support prohibiting driving and yacking. Also, they are comparing cell phone impairment to .08, which is on the border of being legal, if not legal, in most states.

One thing I don't get, though, is if this study is accurate, why we haven't seen a sharp rise in collisions per mile driven since cell phones have become so popular.

[SingingSabre]

I believe that study is flawed. The sort of people who are likely to get in DUI accidents are likely the sort of people who drink to over 0.08 BAC and aren't as responsible as these drivers seemed to be (wouldn't you be if you were knowingly doing a DUI simulation).

I agree that cellular phone use while driving isn't ideal, I agree that it is a distraction, but I feel that this test is flawed in showing the degree of error that talking on a cell phone really brings.

[Flamingmb]

did we really need a study to tell us this? People get off your phone while driving, I dont answer my phone while riding!

[noisebeam]

I just spend a lot a time in airports the last few days, where cell phone use is rampant. Two stories.

The first was this guy right in front of me in security check. on the cell the whole line, then when it came to putting his bag on the conveyor and taking his laptop out, he was slower than a chronic stoner and far more confused, line came to a halt. then he tried to take his jacket off whiile stil on the phone, took it all off except for the arm that had the phone on his ear and he couldn't figure out how to get that last sleeve off. My high usually high pateince broke and I said "maybe you should hang up' he (with delay) said "whatever" but just then the TSA guy lost it too and told him to please hang up and he did and got his jacket off and the line moved on.

The other was watching a guy walking and talking who walked directly into a support column. whack.

Al

[billallbritten]

Two of three of my near misses from cars drifting into my lane while I'm on the bike involved yakkers. I think number three was looking for something on the floor as I didn't see a head as I rode onto the grassy shoulder. Our community has a lot of 4 way stops and a lot of two way stops. When driving my van, and not burdened by a stop sign in my direction, with the cross traffic required to stop, I can't count the number of times the cross traffic didn't stop and the driver was jabbering away. This of course begs the point as to whether they would have stopped if not talking but at least there would have been more probability of seeing my van approaching.

I consider all stop signs for crossing traffic as non-existent. Sad.

Bill

[San Rensho]

Mythbusters had a segment on this. Not scientific, but very eye-opening. What really distracted the subjects the most was when the person on the phone asked them to do a simple math problem in their heads while driving. Their driving got really bad.

[Carusoswi]

Sorry - I'm not buying this study. There are plenty of drivers who are challenged enough that they should not be doing anything else - listening to or changing radio stations, eating, drinking, disciplining the kids, whatever - while they are driving. But I remain unconvinced that drivers using cell phones are just as impaired as intoxicated drivers - sounds like hype to me, and I'm wagering that the study was designed (intentionally or inadvertently) to yield results that supports the hype.

An intoxicated driver has no idea what is going on - at a certain degree of intoxication, you can honk your horn, blink your lights, whatever, and he/she will not react. No study will convince me that cell phone use can produce that sort of impairment.

This is just another catch line fostered by folks with an agenda.

I wouldn't waste my energy defending drivers' rights to use cell phones while driving, but, IMO, this study goes too far in its assertions.

Caruso

[John E]

Sorry - I'm not buying this study. There are plenty of drivers who are challenged enough that they should not be doing anything else - listening to or changing radio stations, eating, drinking, disciplining the kids, whatever - while they are driving. But I remain unconvinced that drivers using cell phones are just as impaired as intoxicated drivers - sounds like hype to me, and I'm wagering that the study was designed (intentionally or inadvertently) to yield results that supports the hype.

An intoxicated driver has no idea what is going on - at a certain degree of intoxication, you can honk your horn, blink your lights, whatever, and he/she will not react. No study will convince me that cell phone use can produce that sort of impairment.

Caruso

You are describing people with blood alcohol levels WAY over the 0.08 threshold. Talking on a cell phone may well be comparable to 0.08 impairment -- slight, but enough to be of concern to some of us.

____
For the record, I never "talk and drive," and I never drink and drive, and I strongly encourage my friends and family to emulate me. Europeans are generally more tolerant of alcohol consumption than Americans, but far less tolerant of driving while inebriated.

[nm+]

The difference between DUI and cell phones is that you can always drop the conversation when you need to (its the talking thats dangerious, not trhe hand off the wheel, those with stick shifts would be killers otherwise) bwhile you cannot sober up in under 1 second. The probolem is that people don't. I have no problem with someone on a phone on I-80 in the middle of Nebraska, but in congested areas, they really need to shut up and drive.
I pull over for my calls.