Here is an interesting article describing research on the distraction caused by talking on cell phones while driving. The important thing is the comparison to talking with a passenger in the car.
Want to drive safely? Talking to passengers may be okay, but talking on the phone isn’t
Fifty percent of the drivers who were talking on the cell phone missed the exit, while only 13 percent of the drivers talking to the passengers did, a number not significantly different from the control condition with no conversation. What’s more, the researchers analyzed the substances of the conversations, and found that in conversations with passengers, the discussion shifted to the traffic / driving situation nearly twice as often than in conversations on the cell phone.
Technorati Tags: driving, cell, distraction, research
The passengers can tell you that the next exit is yours, but the cellphone can’t !