By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
You may recall my earlier story about a proposed complete cell phone ban in Lawrence, Kansas. Well, strengthening that proposal, a study by the University of Utah has determined that people who use cell phones while driving, even with a hands-free setup, are as impaired as drivers who are intoxicated.
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.
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. Source: Reuters
We Say: Based on my own non-scientific study (meaning, while driving), those that I’ve seen driving while gabbing are indeed distracted, tend to drive more unsteadily … and yes, this includes me, even though I use a Bluetooth headset and Voice Command all the time. Most of those I see are using regular phones, however, and they are a lot more distracted than I am. It was interesting that the only people to get into accidents during the simulation were using cell phones. Personally, I think most states will eventually pass laws prohibiting driving without a hands-free setup of some type (including my state, California, which is moving closer to passage of a bill).
This is what, the 300th study to confirm this? Funny how drunk drivers are menaces to society that must be put behind bars, severly punished, executed, ostracized, etc. Yet the cell phone crowd (even with hands-free) is JUST as dangerous and distracted. Yet somehow it’s OK since everyone NEEDS to talk on their cell phone. How ever did we humans get along without a electronic device strapped to our head so we could be in instant touch at all times?
Did the University of Utah folks, in their quest for this ultimate knowledge, follow the scientific method and test ALL forms of distraction while driving? Or was this just another study that’s done because they KNOW it’ll get spectacular results that will guarantee them media headlines??
Is a person who’s:
talking on the cell phone
eating something
changing the radio station/looking for CD’s
lighting a cigarette
putting on makeup (or shaving)
reading the newspaper/book/map/whatever
disciplining the children in the back seat (don’t make me come back there!)
More or less distracted than a person who’s had alcohol??
Why is it just the cell phone users that are targeted? I see
the above stuff *every* *day* on LA freeways (usually while they’re moving into my lane without any turn signals!)
-cid
Hmm, you mean distractions like the woman who drifted into my lane yesterday? She was sorting through a handful of envelopes. I’d love to see a study done on loud music playing while driving.
New Jersey has a hands-free law but it is poorly enforced (I’m in favor of it and use a bluetooth).
If it takes 3,000 studies to convince authorities to pass and enforce the appropriate laws, I’m all for them. Gizmos for Geeks ran a story back in Sep 2005 on the NTSB wanting to ban novice drivers from using cell phones as well as an earlier study comparing cell phones usage to being intoxicated. http://gizmosforgeeks.com/index.php/news/1382
I want a cell phone jammer. I promise not to use it unless I see an idiot in traffic with a cell glued to his/her head.
bit off topic… What I hate are the damn ringtones, all of them… all these lamers who think that having a custom ringtone will make them look smarter in a restaurant. Gadgets like cells often do not make people look cool.. they only underline their idiocy.