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University Study Examines Dangers of Cell Phone Use While Driving

7:00 am on July 5, 2006 | Category: Cell Phones, Mobile Devices

A recent study by the University of Utah suggests that using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle could be as dangerous as drinking and driving.

They study examined the effect of distractions on 40 participants, each of whom tried to use a driving simulator while talking on a cell phone, using a hand-free headset, drinking alcohol to the legal limit, and with no distractions whatsoever.

The drivers who drank a legal amount of alcohol managed to stay in control of their virtual cars, while three of the mobile phone users were involved in three (virtual) accidents, the study found. The cell phone users were also 9% slower in their brake reaction time than undistracted drivers, and tended to vary their speed more often.

“Driving while talking on a [mobile] phone is as bad as or maybe worse than driving drunk,” commented the Utah Universityâ€™s assistant professor of psychology, Frank Drews.

Although the results of studies like this are far from foolproof, there is little question that chatting on the phone wonâ€™t be good for your concentration when driving a car. When you do need to make a call, itâ€™s a good idea to at the very least use a hands-free headset, or better yet pull over.

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