WASHINGTON, July 3 (UPI) -- Some U.S. states have banned drivers from chatting on their cell phones while behind the wheel, at least without using headsets. But according to the latest research findings, it may be prudent for local governments to stop people from driving and chatting altogether, given that talking on a mobile phone and driving at the same time is as dangerous as driving whilst drunk.
That's the latest finding of psychology researchers at the University of Utah. According to their study published in the Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society for this quarter, even when people are using headsets and have both hands on the steering wheel, drivers are as unfocused on the road as they are under the influence of alcohol.
A total of 40 volunteers were asked to use a driving simulator four times: completely undistracted; using a handheld cell phone; using a hands-free cell phone; and while intoxicated to the legal minimum level that defines drunkenness by drinking vodka and orange juice.
"We found that people are as impaired when they drive and talk on a cell phone as they are when they drive intoxicated at the legal blood-alcohol limit," said Frank Drews, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Utah and who was one of the researchers who conducted the study. The legal limit that defines drunken driving in most U.S. states is 0.08 percent.
"If legislators really want to address driver distraction, then they should consider outlawing cell phone use while driving," Drews added.
Specifically, the study found that there was no significant difference in those using a handheld and hand-free mobile phone, as both were found to be distributing a driver's ability to focus on the road. Those who chatted on their mobile phones were 9 percent slower to hit the brakes and showed 24 percent more variation in following distance as their attention switched between driving and conversing, and were 10 percent slower to resume normal speed after braking, thus making them more likely to crash.
"Just like you put yourself and other people at risk when you drive drunk, you put yourself and others at risk when you use a cell phone and drive. The level of impairment is very similar," said David Strayer, the lead author of the study.
Researchers concluded that "clearly the safest course of action is to not use a cell phone while driving," as "impairments associated with using a cell phone driving as profound as those associated with driving while drunk."
Still, the scientists were quick to point out that they were not trivializing drunk driving, or encouraging people to have a few drinks before getting behind the wheel.
"This study does not mean people should start driving drunk...it means that driving while talking on a cell phone is as bad or maybe worse than driving drunk, which is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated by society," Drews said.
