Cellphones bigger distraction for drivers than passengers
December 1st, 2008 - 2:49 pm ICT by ANI ( Leave a comment )Washington, Dec 1 (ANI): Talking on cell phones can be more distracting for drivers, than conversing with a passenger, says a new study.
The University of Utah psychologists Frank Drews, David Strayer and Monisha Pasupathi found as young adults talk on cell phones while driving, their reaction times become as slow as reaction times for senior citizens.
During the study, the researchers used sophisticated driving simulator and found that when drivers talk on a cell phone, they drift out of their lanes and missed exits more frequently than drivers conversing with a passenger.
Previous studies by Strayer and Drews have found that hands-free cell phones are just as distracting as handheld models because the conversation is the biggest distraction. Drivers talking on cell phones are as impaired as drivers with the 0.08 percent blood alcohol level that defines drunken driving in most states.
Strayer said he often is asked about the distraction caused by conversations with passengers versus people on the other end of a cell phone, “because in both cases you have a conversation.”
He found that turns out that a driver conversing with a passenger is not as impaired a driver talking on a cell phone.
“The passenger adds a second set of eyes, and helps the driver navigate and reminds them where to go,” said Strayer, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah and a co-author of the study.
“You see bigger lane deviations for someone talking on a cell phone compared with a driver talking to a passenger.
You also find when there is a passenger in the car, almost everyone takes the exit. But half the people talking on the cell phone fail to take the exit,” he added.
“The difference between a cell phone conversation and passenger conversation is due to the fact that the passenger is in the vehicle and knows what the traffic conditions are like, and they help the driver by reminding them of where to take an exit and pointing out, Strayer added.
The study will be published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied. (ANI)
- Let your fingers feel driving directions, if you don't hear them - Sep 27, 2010
- Why we don't see what's right in front of our eyes - Apr 18, 2011
- 1 in 40 'supertaskers' can drive well while talking on cell phone - Mar 29, 2010
- Why texting is more dangerous than talking while driving - Dec 23, 2009
- Even passengers' phone calls are a danger to drivers - Oct 13, 2010
- Talking on cell phones while crossing the street risky for older people - Mar 16, 2011
- Cell phone use while driving can put close relationships in jeopardy - Jun 16, 2010
- Drivers can be distracted by phone calls - Oct 17, 2010
- Driving impairs ability to comprehend language - Jan 23, 2010
- Talking on phone while driving makes spouse suspicious - Jun 16, 2010
- 'Invisible Gorilla' video shows people's multitasking limits - Apr 20, 2011
- Now, tweet hands-free while driving! - Jul 24, 2010
- Texting while driving riskier than taking calls - Dec 23, 2009
- US govt considering tech that would disable cell phones in cars - Nov 30, 2010
- T-Mobile offers app that blocks texts, calls while driving - Jan 22, 2011
Tags: blood alcohol level, cell phone conversation, co author, conversations, david strayer, deviations, distraction, frank drews, free cell phones, models, monisha, psychologists, psychology, senior citizens, traffic conditions, university of utah, young adults
