Fun Size Bytes (from @Tj)

I do have one question: What about conversations with people actually in the car with you? Is that as dangerous? (via rachelarogers)

(posted in response to this study about cell phone distraction being dangerous)

I’m absolutely no expert on this, and the point of the original article is that more research needs to be done; however, from what I have heard neither a) listening to the radio nor b) talking to other people in the car is as dangerous.

The explanation I heard is that the radio is easier for our brain’s to “disconnect” from than a cell phone conversation, and a conversation with the person in the car is naturally influenced by the driving conditions in a way that cell phone conversations aren’t.

For example, if you’re in fast and heavy traffic driving, the other passengers in the car (assuming they aren’t children :-) will likely stop conversation.

I’m not sure what the explanation is for it, but speaking for myself, there’s a very obvious difference in cell phone conversations vs conversations in the car. I don’t know if it’s reception quality (e.g. you have to listen harder to hear what they are saying) or what, but they seem much less distracting to me. Plus you have another set of eyes who are looking out for potential hazards.

Would it be safer to be in an absolutely quiet car, no talking, no radio, nothing to possibly distract you? I’m sure it would be (assuming you didn’t get bored and “zoned out”). I’m sure everyone has had the experience of driving somewhere and being so distracted by conversation that you missed your exit…

But I’ve never heard anything to suggest that talking to someone in the car is as dangerous as drunk driving, and passengers have been around for a lot longer than cell phones.