A phone rings, you’re driving, you answer. It is a seemingly harmless act, but it could land you in the emergency room, or worse.
Indiana State Police Trooper Jason Schoffstall says, “It’s dangerous because you’re not paying attention to the traffic around you, or what’s going on in front of you.”
Why is talking while driving so dangerous? State police say it’s not simply because looking at the phone takes driver’s eyes off the road. They also say just the act of talking distracts drivers, so their mind is on conversation, not on traffic.
Schoffstall says, “When you’re talking to somebody on the phone it takes your mind off of what you’re doing at the time.”
But, it seems many drivers ignore the danger. A new study by the National Highway Transportation Safety Institute says more drivers than ever are talking while driving.
It is a cell phone strategy that could save your life. The cell phone study shows the least experienced drivers are talking on cell phones the most. Teens and young adults were the most likely to chat on the phone while driving.
And, women are more likely to talk while driving than men.