New study says headsets don't make cellphone-driving safer

A new Australian study has confirmed what many anecdotal reports have said for years: driving when talking on a cellphone is dangerous, even if you're using a headset. The study — the first to cross-reference actual crash data with call logs — found that "there is no safety advantage associated with switching to the types of hands-free devices that are commonly in use." The results are likely to add fuel to the ongoing debate about banning cellphone usage by drivers; "[legislators are] most convinced by the tombstone count," one expert told The New York Times." Given the number of drivers we still see using handheld phones in states where it's already illegal to do so, we somehow don't think changing the law will make much of a difference.

[Jack @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Actually, NYC, the Aussies are correct for reasons of stimulation; speech/conversation is a primarily aural activity, while driving is a primarily visual activity-- the two can conflict with each other because they use different parts of the brain for response. Have you ever gotten absolutely, completely lost and turned down radio so you can see street signs at night? That behavior is based on the same mechanism.

Of course, it probably won't affect many people; most are bad drivers in the first place, from my experience.

[ipodman715 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Well I heard something thing that the brain can't do both at the same time; driving and talking. So you still don't have your full attention on the road even with a hands-free device.

[SD @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

"I think these stupid Aussies don't know what they're talking about. Driving with 1 less hand is way more unsafe than driving with both hands on the wheel. Any idiot can tell you that."

So is driving a standard more unsafe than an automatic now???

Considering the vast majority of cars outside the US are standard, I highly doubt there is any truth to your claim.

[semi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

i think there is a difference between talking on phone and talking to a passenger,
i think you are more likely to concentrate on what a person on the phone is saying than a passenger, eg. reception problems, voice not being clear, background noises intefering with sound etc..etc..

[Harsey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

its kinda like what ipodman is talking about. Motor function and cognitive speech recognition have to share the same resources. So as long as you're trying to talk to someone you're going to be using up resources you could/should be using towards driving safely and NOT CUTTING ME THE FSCK OFF. *cough*
Hey.. I notice we have a favicon.ico now.
Looks SWEET!!

[Harsey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

its kinda like what ipodman is talking about. Motor function and cognitive speech recognition have to share the same resources. So as long as you're trying to talk to someone you're going to be using up resources you could/should be using towards driving safely and NOT CUTTING ME THE FSCK OFF. *cough*
Hey.. I notice we have a favicon.ico now.
Looks SWEET!!

[Timmah! @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I agree with that 2,4,5 etc are saying. "Motor function and cognitive speech recognition have to share the same resources. So as long as you're trying to talk to someone you're going to be using up resources you could/should be using towards driving safely and NOT CUTTING ME THE FSCK OFF."

On a side note, thank u for putting in the favicon! Now i don't need the "Eng" text in my links toolbar and I therefore have that much space. Really, you guys don't know how much this means to me... *sniff*

[tony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Really, the main difference I see between taking a call and talking to a passenger is that the passenger is also aware of the situation outside of the car - a distinct advantange as they can adjust the level of conversation so that they too feel safe and offer another set of eyes if you are looking for an exit or sign.

[Solar Energy Blog @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

From anecdotal experience I would say talking on a handset is MORE dangerous than talking using handsfree. Why?

I've seen people attempting to turn a corner, change gear AND talk on the phone at the same time. i.e. with NO HANDS on the wheel.

However as a number of commenters have pointed out speech uses up a significant proportion of brain resources. I think it depends on the nature and intensity of the conversation. I'll take a call on a bluetooth headset and tell the caller I'm on my way. I always decrease my speed when taking a call to give increased response time. However if it's a more involved conversation I'll pull over. While driving is not a good time to discuss intellectually and/or emotionally challenging topics.

James
Solar Energy Blog

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I'd like to see some data on incidences of crashes while carrying on a conversation with a blind passenger with a tendency to mumble compared to incidences of crashes while conversing with a mobile phone. My theory is that talking to passengers is safer because their being present allows them to warn drivers of potential danger, and I'd like to see how it holds up under scientific scrutiny.

[otakucode @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Whether it is safer or not is irrelevant. A law banning cellphones entirely would give lawmakers just that little bit more power in your life. Therefore, they will take it.

[zed @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Chicago just passed a no driving w/o a headset law. Totally useless because I still see morons cutting people off and doing stupid things while talking on the phone. Not like Chicago cops care what people do anyways.

[tony @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Really, the main difference I see between taking a call and talking to a passenger is that the passenger is also aware of the situation outside of the car - a distinct advantange as they can adjust the level of conversation so that they too feel safe and offer another set of eyes if you are looking for an exit or sign.

[Statistics Guy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

If you read the article, the study was sponsored by the IIHS, a giant shill for the insurance industry. Also, if you read very carefully, the data used is flawed -- they were not able to ask if the headset device was in use at the time of the crash, only "how often the device was normally used" -- talk about using strange data.

[gt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

they need to have like cellphone-only lanes or stops similar to a rest stop off the highway for people to talk

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

9 hit the nail on the head. There's a huge difference between talking on the phone with someone and chatting with someone sitting next to you, and that is that the person sitting next to you knows when it's time to shuttup. I wouldn't be against cell phones if it weren't for these studies saying that driving with a cell is more dangerous than driving drunk.

Nothing is more annoying/concerning than the yuppie or soccer mom driving suburban assault vehicles whilst illegally gabbing on their cell phones. (I live in New York)

[Jay Contonio @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

gt, I really appreciate when people turn off the road to talk on the cell phone. I've only seen older women usually do this, but I almost want to stop and shake their hand.

I am in the boat that cell phone usage in a moving vehicle should be outlawed. If you're at a complete stop on the side of the street, go for it. Just make sure you're off before you go back into traffic. I don't see this as the government putting their nose in people's business, I see it as I don't want to get in a wreck and no conversation is so important that you can't stop the car.

This would make me feel much safer in my small car when driving among the million soccer moms in escalades that have their phone glued to their head.

If they don't do this I am getting a hummer and running all you phone-heads over. It'll be your fault since you'll be on the phone =)

[jimmy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Can't enforce this, hows the cop going to know I'm using my Parrot CK3000 bluetooth interface through my stereo? Can't give me a ticket for talking to myself...
My navigation system is WAY more distracting than my cellphone conversation...

[Andy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

20, it would probably be good enough to stop your casual I-must-have-cell-phone-at-face-constantly tool. I think most people would be happy with that.

Probably won't matter anyhow, as you can't even tell that it's illegal here. People will be on them driving past cops. I've never seen a cop go after one of these jackasses.

[LOL WTF @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

You know what's stupid? Using hand gestures while talking on the phone using a headset in your car.

[cecil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This is easy. If changing the law doesn't change habits, it will be inevitable that the insurance companies will change their policies.

Would you change your habits if all of a sudden your deductible tripled in the event of an airbag event timestamp matching a call log? ...and then you got hauled off to jail?

[Mr.Clicky @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

"...Any idiot can tell you that."

I guess one just did.

[Dito @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

banning the handsfree, non-headset cellphones while driving would be almost impossible to enforce (because you'd really have to be tailing someone for a while to confirm that they're using one and not just singing to the radio). as for the headset ones, i could have sworn that we've had laws against driving while wearing headphones for much longer than cellphones have been around. headphones shield your ears from emergency sirens

[SydneySteve @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

You can read a fuller version of the story here:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/handsfree-but-not-crashfree/2005/07/12/1120934245286.html

[Daz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I was at one of the conferences where this information (or some like it) was presented.

The interesting thing is that mobile phone use in a vehicle contributes to FEWER accidents than music selection (fiddling with radio/CD player). Distractions external to the vehicle were the biggest contributors to accidents (billboards and other advertising material were prime examples).

It is interesting that car radios and roadside advertising are not getting a mention when talking about driver distraction.

Another interesting tell-tale can be seen in road fatality data from the police. If you look at the graphs, you see huge drops in fatalities with the introduction of Random Breath Tests, mandatory accident Blood Alcohol Tests, and the introduction of red light cameras and speed cameras.

Given the high penetration of mobile phones in the Australian market (we love our mobiles here), I would have expected a noticeable increase in fatality statistics over the last four or so years. There isn't even a blip of an increase in fatalities that can be attributed to mobile phone use.

I just can�t see the evidence of talking on a phone whilst driving significantly increasing the chance of having a serious accident - certainly not proportional to the attention and legislation focused on it to date.

SMS messaging from behind the wheel is the more serious issue.

[Roblyman @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

When I flew helicopters in the US Navy, we had a policy that we were not to use the radio unless we were safely above 300' when taking off from the ship. This rule was put into effect after two pilots flew into the water after taking off from the back of a frigate at night.

There is no doubt talking on a cell phone or radio distracts you from the task of driving or flying. Aircraft pilots become very accustomed to talking while flying and are probably better at the cell phone while driving. But pilots also learn to 1) Be brief and 2) Don't talk when in a task saturated environment.

For driving a car, I would say anything other than driving straight down the roadway with no intent to change lanes or turn would put you momentarily in a task saturated environment. I think this is why we always see people on cell phones driving in the left lane; no turns are planned and they do not feel comfortable changing lanes while on the cell phone.

Talking with someone in the car sitting next to you (other than a child) is OK. Both occupants know exactly what is going on. A sudden shift in conversation to "Can I get over?" already shares the full context between the occupants. On the phone you would have to say, "Hang on a sec...I need to get over and merge." This is a change in context that is distracting to the driver because they are already communicating with a lesser degree of effectiveness (cell phone static, lack of visual, etc..) and they get no useful feedback regarding the safeness of the manuever (lane change) from the guy on the other end of the cell phone.

Just being able to say "Stand by" would be useful, but outside of the flying context this might be viewed as rude, geeky, or something else not acceptable in everyday phone conversation. It takes experience and practice to talk effectively on the radio in an aircraft, something *95% of drivers have not done.

This does not necessarily make non-pilots unsafe using a cell phone and pilots more safe, but I do think that the training, experience and proficiency with this skill, whether proacticed as a pilot or in other situations, can make you a safer cell phone driver.

*less than 5% of the US population hold a pilot license.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

"SHHHH... do you smell something?"

[cecil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

No one knows how to drive in the first place, let alone do anything else at the same time.

When I was sixteen, the driving test was literally to take the car around the block. That was in 1993. I imagine they just check if you can breathe now.

So you give what potentially is the least qualified individual to operate this class of machinery one of the biggest distractions(ongoing conversation). Couple this with the general lowering of standards or everything so that everyone can participate in anything, and the no-care, selfish attitude of the past 20-30 years. Combine those two factors with the fact that you can new cars from kia and hyundai for 7-8 thousand dollars.

The last time I renewed my license, I had to take the written test again. I purposely missed every question on right-of-way. Still passed......

All the while the legal limit for alcohol is .08, which is one beer.

When you cater to the lowest common denominator, you must legislate for the lowest common denominator. The solution is to significantly change the test to be a lot more difficult, raise the penelties for driving without a license, test and re-test drivers , and most importantly.....FAIL A GOOD MANY OF THEM.

Everyone does not need to pass.
Everyone does not need to live.
Everyone does not need to reproduce.
We are screwing up evolution.
The only things we let evolve are viruses and bacteria.....

[cell phone headset @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

It's crazy to believe that a headset has no safety advantage over a driver with no headset at all!