Ban on cell phone use
From Austin Bicycle Helmet Law
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| - | [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,640191144,00.html Phone impairs drivers:] | + | [http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,640191144,00.html Phone impairs drivers:] University of Utah researchers say talking on cell is as risky as driving drunk |
People who talk on cell phones while they drive are as impaired as drunken drivers, according to researchers at the University of Utah. And it's not a matter of handheld vs. hands-free, either. | People who talk on cell phones while they drive are as impaired as drunken drivers, according to researchers at the University of Utah. And it's not a matter of handheld vs. hands-free, either. | ||
"People are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit" of 0.08 percent, said study co-author Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology. | "People are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit" of 0.08 percent, said study co-author Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology. | ||
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...Compared with undistracted drivers, cell-phone users in the study drove a little slower, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, had 24 percent variation in following distance, were 19 percent slower returning to normal speed after braking and were more apt to crash. | ...Compared with undistracted drivers, cell-phone users in the study drove a little slower, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, had 24 percent variation in following distance, were 19 percent slower returning to normal speed after braking and were more apt to crash. | ||
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...Two pairs of eyes are better than one. "There's no impairment in terms of performance when talking to a passenger," Drews said. Last week, Drews said, his own family was "nearly killed, and I'm not exaggerating," by someone who was driving while using a cell phone. The cars, side by side, were on a curve on the highway. But the distracted driver was going straight. When Drews confronted the driver on the exit, he found the man, still on the phone, was completely unaware that there had been a near-miss, Drews said. | ...Two pairs of eyes are better than one. "There's no impairment in terms of performance when talking to a passenger," Drews said. Last week, Drews said, his own family was "nearly killed, and I'm not exaggerating," by someone who was driving while using a cell phone. The cars, side by side, were on a curve on the highway. But the distracted driver was going straight. When Drews confronted the driver on the exit, he found the man, still on the phone, was completely unaware that there had been a near-miss, Drews said. | ||
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== Further Reading == | == Further Reading == | ||
[http://www.cellular-news.com/car_bans/ List of countries that ban cell phones while driving] | [http://www.cellular-news.com/car_bans/ List of countries that ban cell phones while driving] | ||
Revision as of 09:27, 4 July 2006
Phone impairs drivers: University of Utah researchers say talking on cell is as risky as driving drunk
People who talk on cell phones while they drive are as impaired as drunken drivers, according to researchers at the University of Utah. And it's not a matter of handheld vs. hands-free, either.
"People are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit" of 0.08 percent, said study co-author Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology.
...Compared with undistracted drivers, cell-phone users in the study drove a little slower, were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes, had 24 percent variation in following distance, were 19 percent slower returning to normal speed after braking and were more apt to crash.
...Two pairs of eyes are better than one. "There's no impairment in terms of performance when talking to a passenger," Drews said. Last week, Drews said, his own family was "nearly killed, and I'm not exaggerating," by someone who was driving while using a cell phone. The cars, side by side, were on a curve on the highway. But the distracted driver was going straight. When Drews confronted the driver on the exit, he found the man, still on the phone, was completely unaware that there had been a near-miss, Drews said.
