This came out today on Yahoo news. I think it is important but I am not sure where to post it.

In case you can't pull up this article, it says that a study shows that young people ages 18-25 who talk on cell phones while driving have the reflexes of a 70 year old person. Don't even ask about the reflexes of the elderly who drive and talk on a cell phone at the same time!
It doesn't seem to make any difference if it is a hand-held set or not, the conversation itself is distracting. I wonder if the same holds true when a person is visiting with people riding with them?

DD



Yakking Motorists
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02-02-05, 06:09 PM
honilov
Very interesting article and it does make sense that it can contribute to an accident. I'd still rather be driving among the cell phone users than the drunks. I think 'that' comparsion is a little overkill. I very seldom use mine while driving, but the only problem I've encountered is dialing the phone.

02-08-05, 08:51 PM
Texan-In-Exile
"The only silver lining to the new research is that elderly drivers using a cell phone aren't any more of a hazard to themselves and others than young drivers."
And that's supposed to be a comfort?! Roll Eyes
Sorry - I just have a prejudice against people who talk and drive!
And to support that, a guy rear-ended my car last November while he was on the cell-phone! Mad

02-09-05, 12:11 AM
DvdGStwrt
Yes it does apply - too many things to process, conversation does take up a lot of processor space, so too driving. Even if you are not talking about anything except, "you know, Stuff".

02-09-05, 09:36 AM
FredPuli
The UK law forbids the use of a mobile phone by anyone driving, whether or not they are stationary in traffic, unless the phone is 'hands free'. We have had some high-profile fatal accidents where the offender was using a mobile (and in one case a truck driver was texting someone at the time of the crash ! Frown ) so it was not long before there was a public demand for the law.

I find that some passengers are more distracting than any phone could be and, so far, we have no law banning youthful cries of " Are we there yet ?" made every few minutes. Big Grin

02-15-05, 05:13 PM
edgeview
The quality of my driving always has suffered when I have a passenger riding with me.

02-16-05, 12:11 AM
SeattleRon
how come it's so much harder to pay attention when you're on a cell phone and talking, but a lot easier when you're just talking to passengers?
I can't ever figure that out? I use my cell phone all the time while driving and have always been able to react accordingly with driving situations.

02-16-05, 07:42 AM
doñadiana
The traffic here is very chaotic so I won't even talk to my husband when he is driving so as not to distract him. And when I am driving in a bad traffic situation, I will tell anyone with me, please don't talk to me right now or we will all be killed. Big Grin

03-05-05, 05:24 PM
Wildflower63
When my kids were young, they were enough to make me total my car getting them to behave! lol! I don't see a problem with headsets and driving. I think that I could safely drive and use a cell phone with an automatic transmission car. I have a standard, so forget that! I will not use a cell phone.

I think the real problem is the age group. They are not experienced drivers. They can cause an accident changing a CD in their stereo!

03-05-05, 07:49 PM
jusork

quote:
Originally posted by Wildflower63:
I don't see a problem with headsets and driving. I think that I could safely drive and use a cell phone with an automatic transmission car. I have a standard, so forget that! I will not use a cell phone.

I think the real problem is the age group. They are not experienced drivers. They can cause an accident changing a CD in their stereo!



Well while driving you're supossed to be able to hear any sirens (like abmulance and firetrucks so you know when to get out of their way). Headsets would make that difficult.

And the problem isn't the age group. The problem is lack of experience and/or lack of focus.

I see no reason why some people can't just wait until they get somewhere to talk on their cell phone. If it's an emergency, just pull over....

03-05-05, 09:04 PM
DvdGStwrt
Just got rear ended today, guess what, he was yaking on his phone and didn't see the big truck in front of him coming to a stop.

Damage to me, red paint on my black rear bumper.

Damage to him. (heh heh heh) lets say the front end of his car end under the rear end of my truck. He will need at the least a new hood, new fenders, perhaps need a little tweak of the frame too. Imagine a tow bar ripping a hole in, then peeling back the thin sheet metal of the hood when I slipped the beast into 4 wheel drive and eased her forward, lots of pretty scraping noises, but no damage to the Beast.

And that children should tell you something - Buy American Steel and, um, yeah - pay attention to the truck ahead of you at all times.....

03-07-05, 05:42 PM
Doug
I'm 18 and I drive. I had only to use my cell phone for emergancy areas like when I would get lost some where and I needed directions. I've gotton a headset for Christmas and that helps alot. Before I would have to put the phone down everytime I had to make a turn. I can't do that creadle the phone in your kneck type thing. The headset helps alot. I don't see anything worng with that.

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