A new study from the University of Utah shows that drivers yakking on cell phones drive more hesitantly and could be lengthening everyone's commute by 5 to 10 percent.
For someone with an hour-long commute, this translates into 12 extra minutes--or more than 50 hours a year.
Does this study sound dubious? David Strayer, who headed the study, had 36 college students drive a converted Ford Crown Victoria outfitted with special screens to simulate driving conditions on a 9.2-mile stretch of Interstate 15 near Salt Lake City. Each student drove in low-, medium- and high-density traffic conditions while talking into a hands-free cellphone and again with the phone shut off. On average, students drove 2 mph slower while talking, and took 15 to 19 seconds longer to reach their destinations.
Freeways reach a tipping point when a few pokey drivers cause slow everyone behind them. The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration receives more complaints about cell phones than any other for traffic. It estimates that during daylight hours 10 percent of all drivers are talking on the phone. It only makes sense that indeed phones are lenghtening everyone's commute.
Source: Los Angeles Times
