Get Off The Phone! Cell Phones Cause Traffic Delays

It doesn’t matter if you’re talking hands-free, via Bluetooth or even Ford’s SYNC system: If you’re gabbing to friends while driving you’re slowing up traffic. At least that’s what a new study by the University of Utah’s Traffic Lab says.

The study shows that people who are engaged in phone conversations drive about two miles per hour slower than when not talking, and are 20% less likely to change lanes.

While this isn’t a total surprise, the study tested only 36 university students on driving simulators taking on a 9.2 mile long course. That doesn’t sound like too robust a survey sample.

Cell Phone Users Tie Up Traffic, US Study Shows (Reuters)