Cell Phone Users Drive “Blind”

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has cited new research from the University of Utah as further evidence that both hands-free and hand-held cell phone use are dangerous behaviors while driving. The study, conducted by Dr. David Strayer and Dr. Frank Drews, found that motorists are more accident prone and slower to react when they talk on cellular telephones (even hands-free models) because "inattention blindness” makes the drivers less able to process visual information. When 18-25 year-olds were placed in a driving simulator and talked on a cell phone, they reacted to brake lights from a car in front of them as slowly as 65 to 74 year olds who were not using a cell phone. The study also found that drivers who talked on cell phones were 18 percent slower in hitting their brakes than drivers who did not talk and drive. The drivers were distracted whether they were using a hand-held phone or using the hands-free feature. Any activity requiring a driver to actively be part of a conversation likely will impair driving abilities.

In 2001, Strayer and colleagues received worldwide publicity when they discovered that people talking on cell phones were more likely to miss or react slowly to simulated traffic signals than people who were not conversing on cell phones. Driving impairment was just as bad regardless of whether participants used hands-free or hand-held cell phones. That suggested the phone conversation itself was a distraction for motorists in addition to the distraction of handling the phone.

GSHA has been concerned that the attention given to legislative bans on hand-held cell phone use is sending the message that drivers are being safe as long as they are talking hands-free. The GHSA states that their opposition to hand-held cell phone bans is rooted in the fact that these limited bans urge drivers to continue an unsafe behavior behind the wheel. The GHSA says the best message to drivers is: “Do not use your cell phone at all while driving.”

If you would like more information on the University of Utah’s research, visit their website at:

www.utah.edu/unews/releases/03/jan/cellphone.html

Did You Know?

• There were 243,294 traffic crashes in Florida during 2003 that resulted in 3,179 fatalities.

• Pinellas County alone registered 13,550 crashes with 11,310 crash related injuries.

• Approximately 95% of all traffic crashes are due to driver error.

• Men ages 19 to 29 are the least likely to wear seat belts while driving or riding in a car and are three times likely not to wear seat belts as women in the same age group.