You are here:
Auto News >
Hands-free or not, cell phones still distracting

Hands-free or not, cell phones still distracting

Posted Jun 9th 2005 1:51PM

CommentsAdd

A Virginia Tech-NHTSA team studied 100 drivers for a year and has concluded that cell phone use is a key cause of traffic accidents. This closely watched study was released yesterday. The team of researchers used cameras and other sensors to record what happens before a crash or near miss. One of the goals of the study was to discover if hands-free devices offer any sort of safety advantage. It seems that it is not the cell phone itself, but the conversation that is distracting. Of course, the cell phone companies argue that cell phones are not the only driver distraction. Sounds like, "Stop picking on me." The bottom line is you should be careful about distractions while driving.

Category: Gadgets

New Features

2009 Most Satisfied Owners
Toyota Recalls Gas Pedals
Most Reliable Cars
Toyota Recall

2010 Cars

Add a Comment

Sign in »

22 Comments

Filter by:

http://www.vcu.edu/uns/Releases/2003/march/030703b.html there is one study. cell phones are not at the bottom, but there are more distracting things than them.

June 11 2005 at 1:19 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Joseph Willemssen

"Yep, some people still unwilling to admit, even after numerous studies, that cell phones are way at the bottom of the list of things that contribute to crashes." Show us the study.

June 11 2005 at 5:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ziggy

Scott, Yes!! We should be allowed to beat anyone who through their own choices intentionally places the rest of us in danger.

June 11 2005 at 5:12 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Scott

Eric, should we be allowed to beat people that eat while driving, since it is proven to be MORE distracting than talking on a cell phone and causes MORE accidents? I don't see how you can outlaw one but not the other.

June 10 2005 at 6:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

M.-

In Europe is forbidden to use the cell phone while driving, unless used with a hands free devise (not included head phones). Also new Saabs and Volvo's phones don't ring while emergency breaking.... all this got to be for something... PREVENTING DEATH

June 10 2005 at 4:29 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ziggy

We should be allowed to beat the hell out of the idiots who drive and talk on their cell phones at the same time. Even the the cell phone lovers on this blog admit that it IS distracting and there are numerous bad drivers out there. Why then would any sane person CHOOSE to intentionally distract themselves when they know everyone else on the road is a freaking moron? You all deserve to die in a fiery car crash, because it doesn't matter if you're a good driver while using your cell phone...odds are the other people on the road aren't. Driving is a privilege not a right, and you need to be paying attention as much as possible when you're on OUR roads. Pull over or wait until you get home to talk on your cell phone @ssholes!

June 09 2005 at 11:33 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Scott

Yep, some people still unwilling to admit, even after numerous studies, that cell phones are way at the bottom of the list of things that contribute to crashes. I didn't say that they AREN'T dangerous, but I think it's only fair to outlaw the MOST dangerous things FIRST, instead of vice versa. Need to outlaw eating, putting on makeup, reading, changing CDs, etc.

June 09 2005 at 10:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tucker

Ok. I hate to be the devil's advocate, but I drive an SUV (the last REAL SUV- '98 Cherokee, and not the mom-mobile Grand), and I frequently use my mobile phone while driving (and not always with the headset =-o). However, I have never had an accident or "near miss" because of it. I signal and practice safe driving the same way I always do. Getting phone conversations out of the way is a great way to pass the time during a commute. The fact of the matter is that there are many, many distracting things we can do while driving, including conversing with passengers. Is a cell conversation any more engaging than one with someone sitting next to you? I, for one, tend to talk with my hands and look at the person. That's a lot more distracting than looking straight ahead while on the phone. When it comes right down to it, some people just aren't cautious drivers. It's a shame, and putting anything (phone, food, CDs, screaming kids in the back seat) in the hands of an already unsafe driver is a bad thing, but we can't stop it. I'm sorry if you got pissed because a [insert stereotype here] cut you off in an SUV while talking on a cell phone, eating a big mac, reading the morning paper and driving with their feet, but it's kind of offensive to always hear people complaining about the small pieces of the big puzzle -- straight up bad drivers.

June 09 2005 at 9:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Joel, there was actually a similar study done by VDOT and I think was JMU recently about distractions while driving, and found cell phones to be near the bottom of the list of most distracting as well Rick, why have you generalized about SUVs? Any idiot on his cell phone in any type of vehicle is a deadly combination. In my area at least, the most people distracted on their phones seem to be those driving premium and luxury vehicles, not SUVs.

June 09 2005 at 7:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

CptMystic

A recent British study showed that cels impair reaction times more than moderate marijuana use. It's somewhat fascinating to me, particularly hands-free cels - why is it so much more distracting than just having someone sitting in the passenger seat that you're conversing with, which most people seem to handle just fine? Pinkerton, you left out ignoring stop signs and red lights. Kurt, I fail to see what driving a Mercedes has to do with it...idiots drive all sorts of vehicles - 75% of California drivers seem to have a phone glued to their ear, I firmly believe that's why our traffic is the worst in the country. It's all just cranial rectosis. It's a debilitating disease, and the only cure is amputation.

June 09 2005 at 5:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply