News, Study: Cellphone users tie up traffic. (drivers, California, Hummer)

[JD59]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drivers talking on cellphones are probably making your commute even longer, concludes a new study.

Motorists yakking away, even with handsfree devices, crawl about 2 mph slower on commuter-clogged roads than people not on the phone, and they just don't keep up with the flow of traffic, said study author David Strayer, a psychology professor at the University of Utah.

Study: Cellphone users tie up traffic - USATODAY.com

[scottv]

no $hit...........

[Ellise]

I once saw a Hummer-driving moron stop--completely stop--on Storrow Drive (inbound) in Boston, to fiddle with his cellphone.

Fortunately, it was a Sunday morning so the traffic wasn't _completely_ gridlocked.

[notjustamom]

That does not surprise me in the least.

[Magnum Mike]

Good grief, sounds like somebody at the AP had a slow day at the news desk, so they decided to make this news.

[greggd]

I will routinely come up on people along the freeway who are driving 55 in a 65mph zone. There is a steady stream of cars passing them on both sides.

Its ridculous, but the cell phone lobby is powerful. Here in California they are going to require drivers to use handsfree units which is a joke and will do little to improve concentration on the traffic.

[Fnix]

I would rather have them driving slow then fast. But 2 mph is not enough to make a difference in anything.