Distracted Driving -- The Law & The Science
http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2009-10-01/distracted-driving-law-science
Will there come a time when using a cell phone or texting while driving is as socially unacceptable as drunk driving? Today, the US Department of Transportation wraps up a Summit on Distracted Driving, and Maryland's law barring drivers from sending text messages while driving goes into effect. We explore our own behavior, and look at what scientists are learning about our brains' ability to do more than one thing at a time.
Guests
Jamin Raskin
Member, Maryland State Senate (D- Dist. 20 Montgomery County); and Professor of Law, American University's Washington College of Law
John Townsend
Manager of Public and Government Relations, AAA Mid-Atlantic
David Strayer
Professor of Psychology, University of Utah
Comments
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My Name is Todd and I live in the Peoples Republic of Maryland. While I do not have a problem with the law on texting specifically it is obvious comrade Raskin wants a lot more. Cell phones are distracting? What about listening to the Kojo Nnamdi show? What about arguing with you kids or talking to your wife? All of these things are illegal if you do not drive properly. It is called reckless driving. The law is already in place. This is another example of Maryland legislators justifying their jobs.
I was rear ended on the Ohio Turnpike by a driver who was talking to his front seat passenger. His mother had taught him to look at the person he was talking to. My vehicle was totaled. Talking to a passenger is equally dangerous and should also be outlawed.
I think passive listening, ie, radio, books on tape etc are not as dangerous as talking on the cell phone, or sometimes talking to a passenger. When you are participating in a cell conversation, it requires that you pay attention to respond to whomever you are speaking. Listening to the radio, whether music or talk show only requires that you listen, not formulate a response. I cannot count the number of times I have been behind someone in the left lane and they slow down, wander over the line, etc. I go around them on the right and yep, they are talking on a cell phone. Interestingly enough, Mythbusters TV show did a test with some of their employees. They took them to a driving course and on three separate occasions, had them drive with the radio on, then had them drive while at the legal limit for being drunk, and had them drive the course while talking on a cell phone. Their poorest performance with the most mistakes was while talking on the cell. These were the younger, more tech oriented employees, who maintained they were very good at multi-tasking. I think the results of the test were quite a surprise to them.