Test shows driving while texting slows reactions more than being drunk (Phone Arena News)

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Test shows driving while texting slows reactions more than being drunk

Test shows driving while texting slows reactions more than being drunk

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Published on: 25 June, 2009 by PhoneArena Team

Test shows driving while texting slows reactions more than being drunk

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Car and Driver magazine conducted a test to objectively measure the effects of driving while sending and reading a text message, and compared the results to the figures obtained by driving while intoxicated. Two drivers drove a Honda Pilot in a straight line and were told to hit the breaks immediately when a light flashed on the dashboard. That test resulted in baseline numbers that were needed to measure the effects of texting and drinking on reaction time.

One driver going 35mph took an extra 21 feet to hit the brake while reading a text message and 16 extra feet while typing a message. At 70mph, reading a text required 30 extra feet to stop and 31 feet while composing a text. While intoxicated, the stop at 35mph required 7 extra feet and 15 feet extra was noted at 70 mph.

The second driver, the magazine's Editor-in-Chief, needed 188 extra feet to brake the car at 35 mph while reading a message and 90 feet while typing; intoxicated, the figures were 7 feet and 15 feet respectively.

While the numbers show that being intoxicated resulted in quicker stopping times than texting, the former resulted in unintentional lane changes and less control of the vehicle. A recent survey showed that 25% of those responding admitted to texting while driving a car. The entire story can be found in this month's Car and Driver magazine.

source: CNET

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behold--me @ 25 June, 2009 02:13:13 PM

wow.....see now that says something

lol

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jrg11 @ 25 June, 2009 02:35:11 PM

.....so if I can drive great while texting, I guess that means I'll be an exceptional drunk driver right?

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yourmom07 @ 26 June, 2009 06:42:02 PM

NO YOU MORON
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE THAT GOT DAMN IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE TO TEXT WHILE YOU DRIVE??

IF IT ISN'T AN EMERGENCY I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE ON THEIR PHONES WHILE DRIVING

I KNOW I GET PISSED WHEN I'M DRIVING AND OTHER DRIVERS DO STUPID MOVES AND ALMOST HIT ME BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THEIR PHONES

THEY'RE JUST AS BAD AS ELDERLY DRIVERS

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13.

jrg11 @ 30 June, 2009 03:04:21 PM

as an ederly person I am deeply offended by your racism

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+1
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LGVX1993 @ 25 June, 2009 03:29:55 PM

You shouldnt have to send a message to anyone while driving.

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jskrenes @ 25 June, 2009 04:19:52 PM

Yeah, but what if you're drinking?

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LGVX1993 @ 26 June, 2009 08:28:23 AM

you shouldnt be drinking either.

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vzw fanman @ 26 June, 2009 12:03:35 PM

well you can drink you just can't be over .08.

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elgee02 @ 25 June, 2009 04:45:04 PM

...as reported in "Duh!" magazine.

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joolian @ 25 June, 2009 09:18:14 PM

wouldnt that be obvious ? at least when your drunk your paying attention to the road,

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Pr0cl1v1ty @ 26 June, 2009 09:20:22 AM

i text all the time while im driving but only when theres no cars around, and i dont send a whole sentence i hit like one or two letters then look up then one or two more letters, also i only do it on straight -a-ways

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jaymee520 @ 26 June, 2009 11:28:05 AM

i text all the time... but only when i am stopped at stoplights... qwerty phones are perfect to text on cause its all fast.!
" dont drink and drive... you might hit a bump and spill your drink.... Dont drive and text... you might hit a bump and hit the wrong letter"

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PapaJay224 @ 26 June, 2009 01:26:59 PM

Honestly if I got hit in my car from a driver whether by "drinking" or by "text" and my kids were in the car, I'd beat the tar out of who ever hit me regardless of "influence"...When your in the car, operate the damn vehicle....Save the other crap when your not endangering anyone else.

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