New Year's Resolution: Don't Drive and Text or Talk
Wed Jan 2, 2008 10:49PM EST
See Comments (9)
It should take no more than a story like the one about a 13-year-old Massachusetts boy killed by a hit-and-run driver whom police suspect was text-messaging while driving to convince us all to not mix cell phones with driving.
But if you think that's too tragically unusual an event that would never happen to you, maybe this will have some sway: Drivers on cell phones slow down commuting traffic, according to a study by a University of Utah professor.
Drivers talking on cell phones, even with hands-free devices, travel at speeds about 2mph slower than drivers not on phones, according to observations of three dozen students driving in simulators. David Strayer, the professor who will present his findings to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences, figures being in traffic with cell phone chatters can add 20 hours a year to an hour-a-day commute.
Much as we're sure we're so good at multitasking, doing a few things at once has to take a toll. The good news, I suppose, is drivers slow down rather than speed up while talking.
LINK: Study: Drivers on cells clogging traffic [AP]
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2 Posted by sfdlf98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:14PM EDT Report Abuse
Well, in Utah they could use some slowing down! They drive like a bunch of crazy people. The limit is 65, but the average speed is about 90 on the interstate. And RUDE drivers, I've never seen anything like it in this country. And, why is talking on the phone any different from talking to the person in the passenger seat?
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3 Posted by arthurmbradford on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse
Sure wish Georgia would pass a law like Connecticut's...here in Atlanta it is already an adventure just driving anywhere for 5 minutes, largely due to cell-phone toting drivers. People, if you all HAVE to use your phones while driving, please, please pull over, park someplace, get out of the way somehow! Those of us defensive drivers will thank you, and so will the overworked staffs of major hospital ER's who have to treat victims of many, many accidents directly attributable to distractions from cell phones. If even ONE person reads these posts and makes a resolution to not use his/her cell phone while driving, that is a positive thing right there. Takers, anyone??
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4 Posted by mldfrmcp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:23PM EDT Report Abuse
Hang Up and Drive is the best thing anyone can do while on the road or Interstate. It is against the law in some states to drive with cell phone in hand while on the Interstate and/or highway. Why don't you just use cell phone ettiquantcey/mannerism and if you need to use your cell phone, turn and park it in a cell phone safe area(rest stop or designated cell phone usage areas). I remember seeing a car or was it an jeep with two folks using their car stereo as a way to contact home or a friend while driving. Even now, with the vehicles of today; just the touch of a button and you saying the number, or the name of that person that you are trying to reach. Guess that you would probably have to program your contacts in...the office, a business consultant/client, your home and etc., before having to call that someone.
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5 Posted by wolffe69 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse
Washington state just passed a law making it mandatory to use hands=free devices, and texting while driving will get you a ticket. I actually witnessed someone get pulled at a TRAFFIC light she was sitting at while texting, and the officer was right behind her. According to what I have been hearing, it will be up to the driver to prove (in court vis phone records) that they were NOT texting at the time of the citation. Txt'ing is bad for you MM'kay?
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1 Posted by yodaoreo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Connecticut enacted a law that only hands-free devices are allowed while driving, yet every other driver on the road is still talking on a hand-held phone anyway (laws are not enforced at all). But hands-free or not, those talking on the phone while driving are easy to spot long before you are close enough to see the driver. They drive slower, swerve more, drag along the far left or right side of their lane, go through stop signs and red lights, pull out directly in front of other cars, and more. Talking on any sort of phone should be illegal in many locations, starting with while driving. What is everyone talking about that is SO important it can't wait till they reach their destination anyway?