cell > drunk

[Adam L. Beberg]

About time...

Looks like the science dudes on that side of the pond are as far ahead of us
as the cellphone makers are.

- Adam L. "Duncan" Beberg
  http://www.mithral.com/~beberg/
  beberg@mithral.com

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Study: Mobile Phone Users Worse Than Drunk Drivers
Fri Mar 22, 1:54 PM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Motorists talking on mobile phones while driving are more
dangerous than those who are over the legal drink-driving limit, a report
said on Thursday.

Tests conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory in Berkshire, England
showed that drivers' reaction times were on average 30% slower when talking
on a hand-held mobile compared to when they had been drinking alcohol.

It took mobile users half-a-second longer to react than normal, and
one-third of a second longer than when they had been drinking. They were
also less able to maintain a constant speed and found it harder to keep a
safe distance from the car in front.

Direct Line insurance, which commissioned the research, said that 4 out of
10 drivers admit to using a mobile phone when driving.

"We were surprised to discover that talking on a mobile phone is actually
more dangerous than being drunk behind the wheel," said Dominic Burch, road
safety campaign manager at Direct Line.

"In effect, this means that 10 million drivers are partaking in a driving
activity that is potentially more dangerous than being drunk."

Tests showed that hands-free mobile phones were also a considerable
distraction, Burch added.

Direct Line said it would support Member of Parliament Janet Anderson, who
is campaigning to make it an offence for motorists to use hand-held phones
while driving. The second reading of her bill is due to take place on April
12.

"Eventually," Burch added, "we would like to see the use of mobile phones
when driving, both hand-held and hands-free, become as socially unacceptable
as drink driving."