The Psychology Behind Why Cell Phone Use is So Dangerous While Driving

We all know the facts, statistics don’t lie, talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. However, drivers are not heeding the warnings. An estimated 44% of American drivers now have cell phones in their automobiles. Accidents in Pennsylvania involving cell phone use increased by 36% in the past two years despite restrictions mandated in several jurisdictions on cell phone use while driving. Research confirms that multi-tasking in the form of talking and driving is not advisable.

Recent research conducted in South Carolina further confirms that talking on a cell phone interferes with visual tasks such as driving. Dr. Amit Almor, associate professor of psychology, of the University of South Carolina found that planning to speak and speaking put far more demands on the brain’s resources than listening. The research participants were asked to perform visual tasks while listening and responding to various conversations. The results showed that the research participants were four times more distracted while preparing to speak or speaking than when they were merely listening. Participants tended to be able to complete the visual tasks in front of them more easily when the voice was directly in front of them suggesting that simultaneously performing language and visual tasks are easier when the tasks are conducted in the same space. Therefore, this research suggests that more cognitive effort is needed to speak with someone on the phone rather than a passenger in your car.