Journal #14, December 3

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081201-for-drivers-passenger-and-phone-conversations-arent-equal.html
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060630-7176.html (extra research)

Everybody in America seems to have a cell phone and they are talking on them it non-stop. About everywhere you go someone is talking on one, but there has been one problem with people talking on the phone; it distracts themselves when they are driving and cause a wreck or put themselves or others in a tight situation. So it's no surprise that many studies have found that cell phone conversations have a serious impact on driving skills and can in some ways be comparable to alcohol. The article gave one of the studies and this one is how phone conversations distract the driver then if a passenger was talking to the driver. The introduction to the study describes a variety of previous work that describe at least three aspects of driving that appear to be negatively impacted by cell phone use. The first is basic control; drivers on cell phones have a pronounced tendency to drift around in (and potentially out of) the lane they're occupying. The second is tactical, which involves adjusting to the cars around you on the road through activities like maintaining a braking distance. Finally, studies have shown that drivers engaged in cell phone conversations are bad at strategic or task-focused processes, such as actually getting to their intended destination. The study also suggest that if another adult is in the car there is a lower chance of an accident and the driver drives better and pays more attention. If the driver has to talk on the phone the hands free phone comes in and there is products that allow the call to go through the speaker and the car radio unit. Today's technology is reducing the chance for a accident and allow the driver to stay full alert while driving. I think that it is dangerous for people to talk on the phone while driving, especially younger drives. There are a lot of bad drivers out in the world and they do not need talking on a phone to make them worst. So I am glad technology is making products to reduce people from getting to distracted and keeping there hands on the wheel. There are tons of people that drive up and down highways and go to work and if there are less wrecks the traffic will flow better and there will be less headache, so I am all for hands free phones.