Text messaging a top safety concern while driving

[wulfie68]

Regardless, most of their studies and findings are from 1997-2003..... now a days, a lot more people use cell phones, which also means more drivers are using more cell phones.... that and adding the fact that blue tooth and hands-free devices are more common today, especially in the last 3 years, those older statistics and studies are clearly out dated.

I'd rely on the more recent, originally posted study then a "Study" based on assumptions by "Experts" and vague use of statistics created 7+ years ago.

Why are studies invalidated because of their age, if they are exploring the same issue? Hands-free cell phones have been around since the early 90s (I had a boss with a pedastal/cradle for his motorola flip phone, which plugged into some speakers and a mic in the sun visor in 1991). Just because the number of people using them has increased, doesn't mean attention span studies into their use are invalid: the devices really haven't changed all that much.

I can add some anecdotal evidence to this by stating that two out of my three speeding tickets were when I was on a hands-free phone call. I always found that because the mic was mounted in the visor, my head was up and I could see the road, but I didn't pay as much attention to my speedometer et al or road signs. Now I know this is just my take, as someone who used a handsfree kit for 10 years or so, but is still just an individual case and not a large number as should be used in a study.

 

[ironsides]

Hands free phones made talking on the phone while driving safer. Texting is like saying a transistor radio was inferior to a the boom box which followed it. Texting while driving is dangerous and should be banned.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Hands free phones made talking on the phone while driving safer.

No they didn't, actually, studies show they make no difference in a driver's attentiveness and recognition of danger.

 

[ironsides]

No they didn't, actually, studies show they make no difference in a driver's attentiveness and recognition of danger.

Here are 3 sources off the top.

While driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has long been demonized by safety groups and the government, it turns out a much more dangerous vice is lurking on our roads - text messaging.

Text messaging deemed more dangerous than alcohol or cannabis behind the wheel - MotorAuthority



The Transport Research Laboratory in the UK found that when subjects were text messaging and driving at the same time, reaction speed was reduced by 35 percent, thereby increasing the likelihood of an incident.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=179537

AAA-Colorado surveyed 460 teenage drivers across the state this fall and found 97 percent of them agreed that text-messaging behind the wheel is dangerous. Yet 51 percent of them admitted doing it, and 66 percent admitted they talk on cellphones while driving.


Read more: Majority of state teens text while driving - The Denver Post Majority of state teens text while driving - The Denver Post
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Majority of state teens text while driving - The Denver Post

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Yes, I agree, of course texting is dangerous, but that wasn't what I was talking about. The point I was making is that hands-free isn't safer than hand-held when it comes to talking on the phone while driving.