| Show University study shows driving I Mt 4 hu YI V e. e 1 V to talking n O i 7 is Is as b bad Oi S as DUI DUT V Sam V Sam C Cooper er A recently published University of Utah study claims driving while talking on ona a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk The study reports reaction times and driving driving driving dri dri- dri- dri ving behavior of participants speaking on cell phones was as dangerous as those of alcohol impaired drivers at the state legal limit percent The research has added to the growing debate regarding cell phone use and the public safety safety safety safe safe- ty implications of its use in the automobile Theres been a lot of research done that suggest these same findings now at least with this research we have a publicly recognizable benchmark for the level of distraction distraction distraction dis dis- traction said one university of Utah graduate student who participated in the research The study was conducted using volunteers and a state-of- state 1 9 It c. c J r r. r 4 Photo Courtesy of the University of Utah Psychology department A volunteer tests his driving skills while talking on a the-art the driving simulator Participants spoke with researchers on hands-free hands wireless headsets while following following following fol fol- fol- fol lowing a pace car which would intermittently apply its brakes Machines monitored performance performance performance mance variables such as acceleration acceleration acceleration brake pressure and response time Some volunteers volunteers volunteers volun volun- where given vodka and orange juice until their blood alcohol concentrate had reached the legal limit then monitored while driving without without without with with- out speaking on the phone Researchers then compared the two sets of data and discovered some interesting correlations Surprisingly the study found that drivers using a cell phone exhibited a delay in their response to events in the driving scenario and were more likely to be involved in inan inan an accident when rip f i their intoxicated counterparts Critics of the study disagree They claim if this were true the number of traffic accidents in the United States would have risen dramatically This position is bolstered by a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study that shows only a slight increase in traffic fatalities wide nation-wide in 2005 and a 41 percent decline in the number of injuries the Never-the-less the has also found that 25 percent of all recorded accidents are caused by distracted driving which also includes the use of ofa a cell phone They see no distinction distinction distinction dis dis- dis- dis between the use of a handheld or a wireless headset while driving The available research indicates indicates indicates indi indi- cates that whether it is a hands- hands free or held hand-held cell phone Cell phone continued on page 3 Cell phone driving is dangerous Continued from front page the cognitive distraction is significant significant significant sig sig- sig- sig enough to degrade a drivers driver's performance This can cause a driver to miss key visual al and audio cues needed to avoid a crash Researchers at the University of Utah see a amounting amounting amounting mounting pile of evidence linking linking linking link link- ing cell phone use distracted driving and an increase in acci acci- dents If IT legislators really want to address driver distraction then they should consider outlawing cell phone use while driving said study co-author co Frank Dr Drews W an assist assistant nt professor psychology of of at the University of Utah in an interview with For some students driving while talking on a cell phone is no laughing matter I think its it's dangerous said Beth a business major She cites a New York law that requires the use of a hands-free hands headset though admitting its limitations I think its it's a visual distraction I dont don't think headsets would fix that thaC She thinks for the time being its it's better to just drive defensively As long as youre you're in your own lane hopefully the distraction distraction distraction dis dis- dis- dis traction is only going to hurt you In 2001 a bill sponsored by Rep Kory Holdaway R- R Taylorsville that required the use of a hands free heads was rejected by the House with a vote of 38 |
