Driving & Using A Cell Phone May Not Actually Be Risky
Illinois may soon ban driving while using your cellphone without a hands free device.
Illinois State Representative John D’Amico (D-Chicago) sponsored a bill banning cell phone use while driving, that was passed in the Illinois House and is now being considered in the Senate, that would make the 10th state in the nation to embrace the ban. The City of Chicago has had a similar ban in place for several years.
But, according to a Chicago Tribune article, there seems to be some research that challenges whether using a hands free device while talking on a cell phone improves safety. In fact, one study seems to show that cell phone users on average are actually safer drivers. While other research seems to indicate using a cell phone while driving doesn’t effect safety at all.
This research co-authored by a University of Chicago economist studied whether car crashes increased after 9 PM, when many cell phone companies offer free or discounted calling after that time.
The study looked at crash volume before 9 PM and then after 9 PM when cell phone rates dropped and there was not significant increase in crashes despite the increase in call volume.
The Tribune story, “Cellphones and driving: As dangerous as we think?“, looks at research and points of view from both sides of the debate.
That 9pm study strikes me as bullshit, something of that sort can’t contradict numerous studies that attention drops when on the cell phone.
The trib thing does match up with studies that have shown that your attention is down regardless of whether you’re holding the phone or handsfree.
Honestly, I’m completely in favor of this ban because of the numerous morons I see hand-clamped-to-ear going 40 in the left lane on the expressways with nothing in front of them.
you gotta be freaking kidding me with this. people looking at their phones while driving is the demise of society. if you look around, its like 1 out of every 10 drivers is completely distracted because they are texting or some other stupid crap. swerving, not giving a shit about slowing down to stop at a light that they could have made, waiting 10 seconds to drive when a light turns green, driving all fucking stupid, it’s endless. this post could not be more wrong. people are becoming zombies (walking too) and there are thousands of people alive and breathing today who are going to be dead because some jackass is checking their facebook and operating a death machine.
that “study” is a joke.
The real problem is distracted drivers, regardless of the source of distraction. Why can’t we just crack down on that?