September 9, 2013. Ridgeland, Texas. Cell Phones.

I just read an article in the August 24th Science News, that said that driving and talking on a cell phone causes four times as many accidents as when not on the phone.   The topic of the article is Impactful Distractions, on page 20.  The article is full of statistics and makes the case,  that talking and driving is dangerous.  

Most folks would tell you that holding a phone and driving is dangerous and almost everyone agrees about texting, but in all studies, talking is the menace, not holding the phone.  Hands free is just as lethal.   The interesting part to me is that no one is upset about this.   No governments are banning cell phone use and people talk all the time on their phone,   But the research is clear.  Driving and talking causes accidents.  It is something about not being able to see when you are focused on the conversation. Most of the time, we get away with it because most of the time driving is boring but every so often, if talking, we miss seeing the car coming from the side street or that pedestrian, and boom, you have an accident.

I am surprised the Insurance Companies have not instituted a penalty if you drive when talking on the cell phone and you have an accident.    But whether the governments prohibit it or not, it is sensible to drive.   If you need to talk on the phone, pull over.   Everyone will be safer.