I haven't read an explanation. My thoughts:
content of conversation is likely less intense in car; passenger can see
when traffic is bad and hopefully shuts up(!) or is willing to repeat; phone
user (other end) not so aware. Business transactions more signif...involve
closing a deal/ sale, setting up a meeting, etc...greater consequence.
I've noticed that I'll miss my exit or suddenly not realize that the cars
around me had changed if I'm engaged in too deep a conversation (with
passenger) while driving. Likewise, I've had drivers of cars in wrecks tell
me that they were talking about this-and-that and "didn't see" something
come up...which caused the crash. I've watched my daughter drive and sing
along with the radio and not see 4 deer on the side of the road that she
generally would see when she's a passenger and MY music is on the radio (I'm
implying that she's shutting out my music). I think it all boils down to
how much of your acutal brain "cycles" are being used for "driving" vs the
"other" process
-----Original Message-----
From: William M. Gilroy [mailto:wmgilroy@avaya.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 4:33 PM
To: Paul F Mele
Cc: Scott Hall; shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: cell phone wiring
Paul F Mele wrote:
>
> I'm worried about a certain statistic....People driving while talking on
> cell phones have the same accident and death rate as DRUNK DRIVERS. This
is
> NOT becouse of their hands or ears being occupied...it's the same with or
> without the hands-free set-ups. It's because driver's minds are diverted
> from driving towards the conversation.
I don't doubt this statistic but I have a question. If it is the
conversation that cause the problem how come talking to your
passenger does not result in the same accident rate? Why
is the phone call different than an in person conversation?
Bill Gilroy
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