Just Wondered

[BoatBuoy]

Here's something I've been wondering about, but I've never heard it addressed. <br /><br />I just returned from a shopping trip. At one point, as usual, I found myself behind someone talking on a cell phone while driving. When I first got my cell phone, I talked while driving, but no longer. I noticed that I was paying more attention to the phone conversation than my driving. As a phone conversation progressed, I began driving slower and slower, to the point of impeding traffic. I notice others do this as well, and it's annoying. <br /><br />What I'm wondering is, why this phonemena doesn't occur when the driver is talking to a passenger in the vehicle. Is it a direct sensory input kinda thing?

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Just Wondered

I'm very interested in what others have to say. I figure it's a combination of two factors:<br /><br />1) While conversing with a passanger in a vehical, the passanger is aware of the present traffic and allows the driver time and capacity. A good comparison is how frusterating it is to carry on a conversation with a child in a car - who isn't aware of traffic.<br /><br />2) It seems to be a law of all forms of electronic voice communication that there can be no 'Dead Air'. Listen to a conversation between two people on any telephone, and with the same people in real life. There are pauses in real life, and there are none on the phone. These pauses give time to think.<br /><br />Whaddayathink? Well, at least you know you're not the only one who has stopped and wondered...

 

[ndemge]

Re: Just Wondered

and that guy on the phone can't say like a passanger can....<br />"uh, dude, your doing 20mph in the fast lane"

 

[dolluper]

Re: Just Wondered

Maybe that's it driving and not thinking good combination but I don't think that just pertains to cell phone users how about paper readers, make-up artists or shavers are just some of the things people do while driving a car .I guess drive to lake and get in the boat and hope those other ones don't fallow

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Just Wondered

I too try not to talk on the cell while driving. It is an unfortunate part of my job though, as I drive all day, and my cell rings all day. I answer and pull over as soon as I can because I usually have to write something down. Ever since they showed that talking on a cell is the equivelant to driving drunk, I have done a much better job of avoiding being a hazard, especially since I am usually carrying 500 gallons of nasty chem in the tanks and I am driving a large heavy cabover flatbed truck. Bad combo.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Just Wondered

I have recently heard of a study that was done...it showed that the human brain can do only one thing at a time...so, while talking on the phone and driving...your brain is rapidly switching between the two tasks. Obviously, if the conversation is more interesting than the boring commute to work...your going to pay more attention to the phone than the potentially fatal traffic. The "hands free" kits allows you to crash with both hands on the steering wheel.... <br /><br />-JustMrWill

 

[Mark42]

Re: Just Wondered

When I drive, I don't converse. That drives my wife nuts. I know I just can't pay attention to the road and hold an in-depth conversation at the same time. <br /><br />One time my wife is driving her Mountianeer and its full of people. Her sister Wendy is sitting way in the rear behind the back seats with the kids. We are talking when wife's cell phone rings.... its her sister calling from the back of the truck because she can't hear the conversation going on up front and wants an update. So I take out my phone and call Wendy in the back. Wendy picks me up on call waiting. I tell her that she is going to get us all killed and stop distracting my wife. Meanwhile my wife is on hold and wants to know who I am talking to...<br /><br />Women drivers.... they just have to be yacking or they can't drive. I can't drive if i'm yacking.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Just Wondered

Here in NY it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless....what a joke...you are using a hands free unit. I see a lot of people talking while driving and as you say, they are not paying attention to their driving. I would like to see the stats on how many accidents are caused because of this. Asd far as your question gos I think Paul answered it.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Just Wondered

I think because a cell phone audio quality is poor that demands more of your brain to try and decipher what the person is saying.<br /><br />You would get the same effect trying to carry on a conversation with someone in the back row of a bus.<br /><br />If they could make the audio more life like, it would help tremendously.<br /><br />I keep my phone talking very limited while driving. To avoid speed fluctuations I set the cruise, and keep my foot on the brake so I reduce my reaction time.<br /><br />Ken

 

[kd6nem]

Re: Just Wondered

I believe some can probably handle cell phones while driving, some cannot. When in any real traffic, I'm in the latter category. Too many who think they can handle it are wrong. But here is an example of someone who can routinely very effectively multi-task: an airline/commercial pilot is generally at least twice as busy as a driver (especially on approach!)even without talking/listening to Air Traffic Control, and ATC talks a lot faster and with much more critical info. Plus you have to be able to discern what is meant for you and what is for everyone else. (Remember the old party lines many had 40+ years ago?) Performing someone else's instructions can be devastating, since a right turn for him might add needed separation but for me could put me right in the path of a 747! I always was a little uncomfortable trying to keep up with ATC- one reason I always preferred small country airports and vintage aircraft back in my flying days. Yet the airline folks do it all day every day without breaking a sweat. They are wired for this- they handle large volumes of both visual and auditory information very well, as well as tactile input (both valid and not valid; they are trained to respond only to the valid).<br /><br />Most folks just have one of these areas as a strength. Some folks process things auditorily with great efficiency. Others are able to visually deal with large amounts of information yet struggle with auditory. I process visual much better than auditory. Give me a quick look at a map and I'll get there. Write me detailed directions and I'll do just about as well. Tell me & I might not make it. Listening/speaking takes much more effort for me.<br /><br />Call me on a cell phone while I'm driving and the result is liable to be a cell phone flying out the window. Maybe even before I answer it. I believe the hands free thing might help me a bit- if anyone could ever get me to carry one of the blasted things. For me it is having an instant intrusion into my personal space. No thanks; they are useful at times but I'll control what conversations I have, thank you. Not some jerk trying to sell something or someone who is not able to correctly push the buttons to dial the person they really intended. If I need an electronic device to help me communicate it is far more likely to be my computer's keyboard. This way I can choose my words a bit more carefully than I might speak them, and I can choose when I will receive and respond to that communication. E-mail and forums are on my terms (time-wise) and at my pace. Naturally I almost never E-mail while driving. (E-mail from my car???! ) I once had a 2-way text pager. That sucker was the most diabolical invention I've ever handled. Imagine trying to answer an impatient boss or customer while driving where there is NO place to pull off for 20 miles, and you are required to answer within 10 minutes. Arrrrgh! The keyboard was tiny- you could flip it open and hold with your palm as you type with your thumb. That is one place a wretched cell phone would have actually been better. But I chose a superior path- canned the job AND the stinking pager! No regrets, either...

 

[Stumpys]

Re: Just Wondered

My wife tells me that (guys)can't do two things at one time.

 

[Rudderman]

Re: Just Wondered

Same over here, its illegal to drive while using a mobile phone, unless you have a hands-free unit.<br /><br />For some reason, talking on the phone takes a lot of concentration, specially if its a work-related phonecall. I know I've almost crashed into the car in front several times because I was so engrossed in a phone conversation (and that was with a hands-free unit too!)

 

[Peter J Fraser]

Re: Just Wondered

Its not illegal yet to drive and talk on a cell phone here, but it is certainly a task that is way beyond a lot of drivers.<br />I have a full hands free car kit instaled in my car and I use that to talk. My phone is a Nokia pocket phone that I can place into the cup as its ringing and be able to answer on H/F.<br />Even then I still will pull over to talk if I can do that safely.<br />If they ban cellphone use then the authorities should also ban the use of car stereo's, CB's, RT's, smoking, eating, drinking etc. Any of these could be bad for your driving.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Peter