http://www.theregus.com/content/5/24413.html

[QUOTE]Boffins at the Transport Research Laboratory in Berkshire, UK found that driving is impaired more by using a mobile phone than by being over the legal alcohol limit.

 

You know there are some facts you just don't accept. For me... this is one of them.

More dangerous that drink driving? I can't accept that. Sorry they spent so much money studying that.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jedwards
[B]You know there are some facts you just don't accept.

 

This *fact* belongs in the "Incredible Facts" thread.

 

I personally agree with the research. When I'm drunk I'm actively trying NOT to appear drunk and to pay attention. I get much more easily distracted when I'm on the phone. I actually think I drive drunk more often than I drive while cell-phoning.

Every near-miss I have on the highway is because some fool is talking on his/her cellphone. If this car wasn't so sharp I would've been in so many crashes.

 

This doesn't surprise me in the least. Our drunk driving laws are so overboard it's pathetic. Every time you read about someone causing a major accident while drunk they're usually in the .15-.25 range in BAC. You never see statistics about what percentage of accidents can be attributed to people in the .08-.10 range yet society loves to vilify people who are arrested in that range as if they've killed someone. I see people on cell phones who seem oblivious to the world all the time during my drive to and from work. I'm much more worried about them than I am someone who's had a few (but not too many). I'm waiting for the study about women putting on makeup in the car versus drunk driving myself .

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jedwards
[B]You know there are some facts you just don't accept.

 

Using a mobile phone while driving can be very dangerous indeed, I have no reason to doubt the research.

 

I try to always use a hands-free setup too, but the study showed that it's the talking, not the holding that is most distracting. It is hard to convey concepts to other people without being able to give/recieve visual cues. Shoot, I have hard enough time talking on the phone while sitting still, let alone while driving.

 

I believe stupid people behind the wheel is the MOST dangerous thing on the road.



When you take out a person's ability to think and reason, you're left w/ nothing behind the wheel.