Psychology 409a- December 2, 2005
My Eleventh Outline of Assigned Readings
By Jessica Trujillo
Use of Cell Phones Like Driving Drunk?

Reference: Rothe, J. Peter, ed. “Driving Lessons; Exploring systems that make traffic safer.” The University of Alberta Press. Edmonton:2002. 283-290

Instructions for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/409a-g23-oral.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon James

Concept 1: Case Study

A. Identified drivers in Toronto between July 1994 and August 1995 who had been in a collision involving significant damage but no personal injury. 5890 people were screened.

B. It was found that drivers were more likely to have made a call during the 10-minute interval immediately before the collision.

C. I can see that people who are talking on their cell phone can be more likely to get in a car accident, then someone who isn’t.

Concept 2: Hands free cell phones

1. According to the data, it appears that hands free cell phones do not decrease the risk of getting into an accident, but that it might be lack of experience
2. They found that people who owned a cell phone longer then 5 years were more likely to have a decreased risk by about 2 points
3. I think that this is interesting, because so often we think that it is our hands that are making us drive poorly, but this proves that it is the lack of thinking that makes us drive poorly.

Concept 3: Talking to passengers

1. Is there a difference when talking to passengers and talking on the cell phone? Speculation thinks no.
2. First, passengers not only are able to distract, but they are also good at vigilance, by pointing out cars and signs one would have otherwise missed. And second, passengers can understand why a driver might of stopped talking to merge onto the freeway.
3. I think that this is an interesting study to do, and I think that the speculation points were very valid.

Links:

1) http://sltrib.com/utah/ci_3267603- Utah reminds drivers, no cell phone while driving

2) www.cellular-news.com/car_bans/- list of countries who have bans on cell phone usage while driving

3) www.hsph.harvard.edu/press/releases/press07242000.html- points out benefits over risks of driving while talking on the phone

Class Homepage: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm
My Homepage: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409af2005/trujillo/home.htm