merchimerch | headsets don't help

I'm scared of driving and talking on my cell phone. I'm a fairly adroit multitasker, but not when it comes to conversations and driving (and driving tends to frighten me anyhow).

Salon.com just put out an article that synthesizes some interesting research. First off, talking on a headset doesn't make much of a difference in terms of safety when driving, so the new headset laws, much like the security procedures at airports, are creating a false sense of safety.

Also, cellphones actually increase traffic, since drivers on cellphones tend to drive slower and are less apt to pass slower moving vehicles.

And, driving while talking on a cell phone really is much more dangerous than talking to someone who is sitting in the car next to you, since passengers tend to adjust the conversation to the driving conditions, quieting down when things get stressful and acting as a 2nd set of eyes on the road.

So, while I'm not going to go around yelling "shut up and drive!" it seems that is exactly what we all should be doing (or maybe just taking the bus and avoiding the issue while saving gas).

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/07/25/cell_phone_driving/index.html