Driving While Cell Phoning Slows Traffic

Now that the holidays are over, and the Consumer Electronics Show and Macworld expo are nigh, my mind turns to...cell phones in the car.

A new study from the University of Utah finds that motorists drive about two miles per hour more slowly than drivers who refrain from cell phoning. The use of hands-free devices are just as likely to slow drivers down, compared to hands-on cell phone use, the study says.

So what, you ask? Consider this: The university's research suggests that "slower cellphone drivers may be increasing overall commuting times by 5 percent to 10 percent," according to The New York Times in its report of the study's findings. Thus, talking on the phone "may increase each daily commuter's travel time by 20 hours a year," says the Times. The reason: Cell phone talkers tend to be distracted, which causes them to drive more slowly and to have slower reactions.

I work out of my home office, so I'm not greatly affected by the cell phone slowdown. Still, in San Francisco (where I live), I see evidence of this trend constantly. For example, when I encounter drivers who appear to be snoozing at green stoplights or who fail to use their blinkers when turning, those drivers are, invariably, talking on their cell phones. Their distractedness has caused them, and me, to slow down unnecessarily.

Even more concerning, in my opinion, are cell-phone-using pedestrians. I'm truly shocked at how many people I see in San Francisco, pushing their baby buggies into congested intersections without first glancing in both directions. I suppose these pedestrians are focusing on something far more important than their children's safety, such as a discussion with their spouses of whose turn it is to make dinner.

Pedestrians have the right of way, of course. But that's the ideal world. In the real world, we have drivers who are distracted on their cell phones. We have entitled pedestrians not paying attention to those drivers. It's a potentially disastrous combination. 

I must admit to driving while cell phoning, too. But it's a New Year, and refraining from unnecessary cell phone use while driving is at the top of my resolutions. At a minimum, I'll get where I'm going just a little bit faster.

Comments

[chuck]

Amen to your New Year's resolution! Every time, or almost every time, I see someone driving erratically, that person has a cell phone firmly clamped to his or her ear. What tragic incident must happen for people to realize that driving a vehicle requires all of one's concentration and effort? I say this with the utmost certainty, since I once tried to dial a cell phone and conduct a conversation while driving--not a pleasant memory, since I found I couldn't give my full attention to driving, nor could I give it to the person I was calling. I did discover that I could do two things at once very badly, though!!

[Wandas11]

Thank goodness some realizes teh dangers of driving while talking on a cell. Maybe more people will listen.

[Rita]

There are so many awesome cell phone cases and other cell phone accessories coming out right now, I don't know which to get first.

[ella]

Why do people still do it, talking on the phone whilst driving, there is nothing more irritating than this. With all the gadgets you can get today and phone accessories, there is no excuse.