Friends don't let friends talk and drive

Iria · Dec 13, 2005, 06:37 AM

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that between 20 percent and 30 percent of vehicle accidents, some 1.2 million per year, are the result of driver distraction. Combine that with results of a 2005 NHTSA study that found "during a typical daylight moment in 2004, approximately 8 percent of drivers were using wireless phones in some manner, double the number estimated in 2000," and the question becomes obvious. Are cell phones a danger when driving? Mei-Ching Lien, an assistant professor at Oregon State University, and researchers at the NASA Ames Research Center published results of their studies on "multi-tasking" in the Journal of Experimental Psychology.

In their study the researchers asked volunteers to respond to a variety of auditory and visual cues then measured the responses. When the volunteers prepared for one task, such as responding to the color red, their responses were swift and accurate. When the researchers added a second element—the recognition of shapes as well as color—the task switch considerably delayed the responses, even when the volunteers were prepared for it.

Results of studies showed a typical response to a single task might take 300 milliseconds, a second task increasing that to 800 milliseconds, which doesn't sound like much if you think of talking and driving as two tasks. Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

"A lot of people think talking on the cell phone while driving is natural, but each time someone asks a question or changes the subject, it's like taking on a new task," Lien said. "It requires a certain amount of thought and preparation. It's actually quite different than listening to the radio, where you don't need to respond.

"And it's also different from talking to a passenger in the vehicle," she added. "In most cases, a passenger can observe when there is a dangerous traffic situation and keep quiet. But someone calling you on a cell phone won't have a clue."
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Read More / Source: Ars Technica

Dec 13, 2005, 06:37 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	Friends don't let friends talk and drive The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that between 20 percent and 30 percent of vehicle accidents, some 1.2 million per year, are the result of driver distraction. Combine that with results of a 2005 NHTSA study that found "during a typical daylight moment in 2004, approximately 8 percent of drivers were using wireless phones in some manner, double the number estimated in 2000," and the question becomes obvious. Are cell phones a danger when driving? Mei-Ching Lien, an assistant professor at Oregon State University, and researchers at the NASA Ames Research Center published results of their studies on "multi-tasking" in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. In their study the researchers asked volunteers to respond to a variety of auditory and visual cues then measured the responses. When the volunteers prepared for one task, such as responding to the color red, their responses were swift and accurate. When the researchers added a second element—the recognition of shapes as well as color—the task switch considerably delayed the responses, even when the volunteers were prepared for it. Results of studies showed a typical response to a single task might take 300 milliseconds, a second task increasing that to 800 milliseconds, which doesn't sound like much if you think of talking and driving as two tasks. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. "A lot of people think talking on the cell phone while driving is natural, but each time someone asks a question or changes the subject, it's like taking on a new task," Lien said. "It requires a certain amount of thought and preparation. It's actually quite different than listening to the radio, where you don't need to respond. "And it's also different from talking to a passenger in the vehicle," she added. "In most cases, a passenger can observe when there is a dangerous traffic situation and keep quiet. But someone calling you on a cell phone won't have a clue." __________ Read More / Source: Ars Technica