Engrossed in conversation: The impact of cell phones on simulated driving performance.
Beede KE, Kass SJ. · 2006
View Original AbstractHands-free cell phone conversations impair all aspects of driving performance, proving the distraction is cognitive, not just physical.
Plain English Summary
Researchers tested 36 college students in driving simulators to see how hands-free cell phone conversations affected their driving ability. They found that talking on the phone significantly impaired performance in all four areas measured: traffic violations (like speeding), lane maintenance, attention lapses (like stopping at green lights), and reaction times. The study demonstrates that even hands-free phone calls create dangerous cognitive distractions while driving.
Why This Matters
This research highlights a critical but often overlooked aspect of our relationship with wireless devices: the cognitive effects of RF exposure during everyday activities. While we typically focus on the biological impacts of electromagnetic radiation, this study reveals how cell phone use fundamentally alters brain function in real-time, impairing the complex cognitive processes required for safe driving. The science demonstrates that hands-free calling offers no safety advantage because the distraction isn't physical but neurological. What this means for you is that any cell phone conversation while driving creates measurable impairment in attention, reaction time, and decision-making. The reality is that our brains cannot effectively multitask when processing the electromagnetic signals required for wireless communication, regardless of whether we're holding the device.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The current study examined the effects of cognitively distracting tasks on various measures of driving performance.
Thirty-six college students with a median of 6 years of driving experience completed a driving histo...
Performance was significantly impacted in all four categories when drivers were concurrently talking...
The findings lend further empirical support of the dangers of drivers being distracted by cell phone conversations.
Show BibTeX
@article{ke_2006_engrossed_in_conversation_the_1892,
author = {Beede KE and Kass SJ.},
title = {Engrossed in conversation: The impact of cell phones on simulated driving performance.},
year = {2006},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16310750/},
}