Using a mobile phone while driving as dangerous as being drunk
By Dusan Belic on Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 6:25 AM PST In General
According to a new Carnegie Mellon University’s study which was published in the latest issue of the Brain Research journal, using a mobile phone while driving could be as dangerous as being under the influence of alcohol. In fact, researchers found that drivers under the influence of alcohol and those speaking on cell phones tend to commit the same errors.
With help of brain imaging, the study documented how mobile phone use alone reduces 37% of brain activity engaged in driving. This was proved in a simulator where drivers with mobile phones zigzaged out of their lanes like they were drunk.
Now the horribly part — Bluetooth headsets don’t help! Distractions can be so big that even car-kits don’t work. No wait a minute, Bluetooth headsets work just fine for me and I must say I don’t see any changes in my driving. Hopefully government authorities won’t read this. 
[Via: textually.org]
Carnegie Mellon should’ve just started watching Mythbusters…
Maybe they should teach people how to drive and talk at the same time. I learned that ability a long time ago.
Realistically, if you can’t drive and use a bluetooth headset at the same time then you shouldn’t be driving at all. God help you if you get a chatty passenger at some point in your life.