On Driving and Cell Phones
I was watching more MythBusters episodes[1] the other night with sadeyedartist. The episodes are, unfortunately, not in order. People had been warning me at lab that the shows get dull when the "new guys" join. Well, one of the episodes finally had these "new guys", and my coworkers are right -- the "old guys" are so much more enjoyable. (The girl especially drives me batty.)
Anyhow, this was the first show where I feel they did not do a thorough job at their myth busting, or in this case, myth confirming.
The episode was on whether or not talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. They claimed it was true -- although neither driver was actually drunk, just tipsy.
But of course, driving a car while tipsy is pretty stupid, and talking on a cell phone is just as distracting.
But what I was disappointed by was how they tested this. They were working on the assumption that it is the level of concentration that is the issue. They made a point to ask word problems and other such questions that require processing -- not difficult stuff, but things that require more than just listening.
I don't see, though, how it can be the level of concentration that is at stake here. I admit that talking on a cell phone makes it more difficult to concentrate on driving, and I avoid doing so. However, if I use a hands-free set, I have no difficulty driving. Similarly, I can carry on extensive and complicated conversations with a passenger without difficulty.
Is it the combination of the talking and the one hand being off the wheel?
I regularly hold sadeyedartist's hand while driving and talking, so this doesn't seem to be the answer either.
sadeyedartist argues that it is not just having one hand off the wheel but having one hand holding on to something not easy to let go of. For example, if, while holding her hand, I realize I need to make a lane change, I can easily let go and use both hands. However, if I talk on the phone, I am not as likely to just drop the phone in mid conversation.
This still doesn't seem like a thorough explanation to me though. The few times I have talked on the cell while driving, it actually feels more difficult to drive; it is not a matter of it just becoming more difficult in those times when I suddenly find I require two hands. And watching people talk on cell phones in cars in front of me indicates that such people tend to have a hard time maintaining consistent speed and/or to swerve in and out of their lanes.
I wish the MythBusters would have done more controls and tested more cases -- such as just holding a phone at the ear or using hands-free sets.
Maybe using a hands-free set is still dangerous, but not as dangerous as the added problem of driving with one hand. Maybe the difference between talking on a phone and talking with someone in the car with you is the brain has to concentrate more on a conversation lacking usual inputs. For example, if I talk with you in person, I also am picking up facial expression and body language, where I have to guess at this on a phone.
I don't know. I'd imagine that studies are out there on this. Does anyone know?
In any case, please don't drive and talk on the cell phone. The roads are dangerous enough as it is.
Anyhow, this was the first show where I feel they did not do a thorough job at their myth busting, or in this case, myth confirming.
The episode was on whether or not talking on a cell phone is as dangerous as driving drunk. They claimed it was true -- although neither driver was actually drunk, just tipsy.
But of course, driving a car while tipsy is pretty stupid, and talking on a cell phone is just as distracting.
But what I was disappointed by was how they tested this. They were working on the assumption that it is the level of concentration that is the issue. They made a point to ask word problems and other such questions that require processing -- not difficult stuff, but things that require more than just listening.
I don't see, though, how it can be the level of concentration that is at stake here. I admit that talking on a cell phone makes it more difficult to concentrate on driving, and I avoid doing so. However, if I use a hands-free set, I have no difficulty driving. Similarly, I can carry on extensive and complicated conversations with a passenger without difficulty.
Is it the combination of the talking and the one hand being off the wheel?
I regularly hold sadeyedartist's hand while driving and talking, so this doesn't seem to be the answer either.
sadeyedartist argues that it is not just having one hand off the wheel but having one hand holding on to something not easy to let go of. For example, if, while holding her hand, I realize I need to make a lane change, I can easily let go and use both hands. However, if I talk on the phone, I am not as likely to just drop the phone in mid conversation.
This still doesn't seem like a thorough explanation to me though. The few times I have talked on the cell while driving, it actually feels more difficult to drive; it is not a matter of it just becoming more difficult in those times when I suddenly find I require two hands. And watching people talk on cell phones in cars in front of me indicates that such people tend to have a hard time maintaining consistent speed and/or to swerve in and out of their lanes.
I wish the MythBusters would have done more controls and tested more cases -- such as just holding a phone at the ear or using hands-free sets.
Maybe using a hands-free set is still dangerous, but not as dangerous as the added problem of driving with one hand. Maybe the difference between talking on a phone and talking with someone in the car with you is the brain has to concentrate more on a conversation lacking usual inputs. For example, if I talk with you in person, I also am picking up facial expression and body language, where I have to guess at this on a phone.
I don't know. I'd imagine that studies are out there on this. Does anyone know?
In any case, please don't drive and talk on the cell phone. The roads are dangerous enough as it is.