Does using a cell phone slow down your reaction time?

Reaction times with no texting activity were typically between one and two seconds. Reaction times while texting were at least three to four seconds. By slowing down, a driver gains more time to correct for driving errors (such as the tendency to swerve while texting).

How does using a mobile phone affect a driver’s reaction time?

Distraction resulting from mobile phone use whilst driving has been shown to increase the reaction times of drivers, thereby increasing the likelihood of a crash. A reduction in the ability to detect these events while distracted presents a significant safety concern that must be addressed.

What percentage of car accidents are caused by mobile phones?

The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving. 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.

Do cell phone laws reduce accidents?

California has seen a significant reduction in traffic deaths since a 2008 state law banned hand-held cell phone use, according to study results released by the state Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

Why is it dangerous to use your phone while driving?

Using a cell phone while driving increases the driver’s risk of causing a crash. Drivers are distracted, decreasing the driver’s awareness on the road, leading to more car crashes. Drivers who text when behind the wheel, are twenty-three times more likely to have an automobile crash.

What is the safest practice when using mobile phones while driving?

Abstain from talking on a cell phone while you are actively driving. If you need to answer a call or make one, try and pull off the road into a safe parking area. Make sure your phone is within easy reach, not in the glove compartment or a purse where you might have to dig for it.

How do cell phones cause accidents?

Accidents Caused by Cell Phone Use on the Road Whether they’re sending a text, answering a call, scrolling through social media, or watching a video, by taking their focus off the road, they’re putting other drivers at risk.

How can you prevent cell phone use while driving?

With the aim of preventing road accidents occurrence due to mobile phone usage while driving, we propose a highly efficient automatic electronic system for early detection of incoming or outgoing call, an antenna located on the top of driver seat used for detecting when the driver uses mobile phone and a low range …

Is a hands-free phone safer than a handheld phone?

Performance while using a hands-free phone was rarely found to be better than when using a handheld phone. Some studies found that drivers compensate for the deleterious effects of cell phone use when using a handheld phone but neglect to do so when using a hands-free phone.

Should talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving be illegal?

California Vehicle Code §23123 specifically states that a “person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving.” Exceptions to the “talking while driving” …

What do psychologists say about having phone conversations while driving?

The Research Studies. Cell phones may be convenient but there’s one place they seem to do more harm than good – and that’s behind the steering wheel. Human attention has a limited capacity, and studies suggest that talking on the phone causes a kind of “inattention blindness” to the driving scene.

How can emotions affect your driving?

As a result of your mood, you may also take more driving risks than you normally would when you’re calm, relaxed, and alert. Stress, fear, anxiety, and other emotional states of mind can and will impair your driving ability. Distraction—not paying attention—is the number one cause of car collisions.

How do distractions affect driving?

Distracted drivers also lose their sense of situational awareness. In other words, distraction makes it harder to see the “big picture” of what is happening on and beside the road. As such, drivers will be slower to notice and react to potential hazards.

How texting and driving affects the brain?

Summary: Even simple cell phone conversations can cause distracted driving. Researchers have found listening on the phone while driving creates a lag in the mind to extract itself from one object before fixing attention on another object. We all know that talking on a cell phone impedes your driving ability.