Cell Users As Bad As Drunk Drivers

An anonymous reader writes "News.com reports on a cell-phone use study which confirms that talking on your cell is as bad as being drunk, when it comes to driving skill. The researchers studied 40 volunteers in a driving simulator." From the article: "[The subjects were observed] while undistracted, using a handheld cell phone, using a hands-free cell phone and while intoxicated to a 0.08 percent blood-alcohol level--the average legal level of impairment in the United States--after drinking vodka and orange juice. Three study participants rear-ended the simulated car in front of them. All were talking on cell phones and none was drunk, the researchers said."

forget cells...

[torrents]

how about the idiots trying to use wireless email behind the wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I'm Not Drunk

[neonprimetime]

Just like many people who have been drinking, the cell phone users did not believe themselves to be affected, the researchers found.

Honestly officer ... I wasn't really talking on the phone ... I just hold it by my head to keep warm.

Yeah, you're awesome, I love you man...

[DaSenator]

What about drunk dialing someone from your cell phone?

Things that make you go "Hmm.."

[MImeKillEr]

What about drunk drivers who are also on their cellphones?

Hmm..

Hot Damn!

[fobbman]

You mean I might have a chance with the hot babe at the party whose sober but chatting on her cell phone?

War Driving Unsafe?

[neonprimetime]

Are you implying that wardriving [wikipedia.org] from the driver's seat is unsafe?

Re:The usual response

[Carnildo]

"But I can put my phone down, I can't stop being drunk." Except that people don't put the phone down, they crash.

Exactly. I got rear-ended at two consecutive red lights once, by the same cell-phone-impaired driver. Fortunately, the only damage was a matched set of trailer-hitch prints in his front license plate.

And when you combine all three...

[MyOtherUIDis3digits]

you are really asking for trouble!

"Yeah, babe, I've been thinking about you"
"Noooo, I haven't been drinking! I'm close to your place, can I come over? I miss you..."

Never ends well.

Re:Incomplete study...

[forkazoo]

I would like to see a few more test groups added to this. How about the average pot smoking teenager, the girl putting makeup on, and my personal favorite that I saw recently... a woman brushing her teeth!

Also, I want to see a study of how much reading while driving impairs your ability. I want to know how much more dangerous I make my drive home, so I can calculate if the probable time savings are likely worth it... :)

Re:Incomplete study...

[fobbman]

They can't find enough pot-smoking teens with the motivation to get off of the couch, let alone actually DRIVE somewhere.

Business plan

[quokkapox]

1. Find rich person driving expensive car talking on cellphone.

2. Pull in front, slow down, encourage tailgating, then brake suddenly.

3. ????

4. Profit!

Re:where to draw the line?

[ArmyOfFun]

Not nearly often enough.

Re:The usual response

[rxrx]

I use a cell phone while driving very easily. Never had a accident in my life. My superior multithreaded brain allows me to do this. Watch out!

You will never, ever, beat my personal favorite.

[modecx]

One day a few years ago I was crusing down I-70 outside of Denver going eastbound in the left most lane, I was doing around 70MPH early in the morning. A guy in a Geo Metro, or some other ultra-small, car *passes me* in the middle lane, playing no less than a goddamned recorder! You know, the flute like thing with holes that you cover with your finger--the plastic thing they let 2nd graders blow on and make a cacophony? Bingo. He was playing the recorder and driving with his knees. He even had a piece of sheet music propped up on the steering column. No shit.

We could take all of the stories about women doing their makeup, guys shaving, and all that sort of stuff, and combine them... But it'll still never be as good as my story. Seriously, the only thing that can beat it is if someone spots a musical driver playing an oboe, a sax, a chello, a trumpet, a tuba or a trombone, snare drum or some other instrument that is larger than a stupid recorder...

I'd be most impressed if someone spotted a tympani player, like on a bus or something.

ahh, an invalid control group!

[swschrad]

"vodka and orange juice," indeed! that's the control group for using a ham radio in contact with borneo while driving.

cell phone drivers' control group should be beer drinkers.

I sorta got to prefer mai tais a year ago, I hate to think what study that would put me into ;)

Re:Incomplete study...

[lgw]

I just hope to die quietly in my sleep like my grandfather, not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car.

Re:The usual response

[lgw]

You know what they say ... people in cars produce accidents, accidents in cars produce people.

Re:I'm curious...

[fishybell]

I know I do! I've got two dents in my front license plates from one!

Real Theory of Everything.

[WilliamSChips]

But 99% of everyone is an idiot.

Now this is the real Theory of Everything.