Researchers offer their collective opinion on using cellphones while driving.
We welcome the announcement that the Government intends to amend road traffic rules regarding use of cellphones while driving.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce was reported recently as commenting that a ban on text messaging while driving is "an absolute no-brainer". We agree. There is overwhelming evidence that both reading and
sending text messages while driving is highly dangerous. Furthermore, survey research carried out at the University of Auckland indicates that this behaviour is extremely widespread in New Zealand.
We also welcome the announced ban on using hand-held cellphones while driving. However, we are most concerned that using hands-free phones while driving will be exempt from this ban.
The problem with this course of action is that a large body of research evidence has shown that conversing on a hands-free phone while driving is just as risky as talking on a hand-held.
The effects of cellphone use on driving performance and crash risk have been examined in more than 30 scientific studies.
The findings have been clear: talking on a cellphone impairs driving, and similar impairments are seen with hands-free and hand-held phones.
We are aware that this conclusion is surprising. Research suggests that the conversation itself is the factor responsible for driving impairment - rather than the physical demand of holding and manipulating the phone.
So why is conversing on a hands-free phone while driving more dangerous than talking to someone in the passenger seat? Research funded by the New Zealand Transport Agency and carried out at the University of Waikato has shown that a vital factor here is that passengers will pace their conversation in response to changing traffic conditions, pausing or even alerting the driver when approaching a hazard, such as a busy junction or pedestrian crossing.
A serious problem with exempting hands-free phones from the proposed ban is that this creates the impression that using a hands-free phone while driving is safe. As we have seen, this impression is inaccurate.
We are especially concerned that the mistaken notion of hands-free phones and driving being a safe combination is already being exploited in a misleading way in advertising material for cellphones.
An important part of our job as scientists is to ensure that policymakers and the New Zealand public are well informed on matters related to our scientific work.
In this case, findings from a large number of carefully designed studies converge on the same conclusion: using a hands-free phone while driving is just as dangerous as using a hand-held.
There are many occasions when we routinely shut off our cellphones: the cinema, classes and meetings, children's school recitals, and so on.
Because of the clear safety implications we propose that "while driving" be added to the list of occasions when it is unacceptable to use a phone, whether hand-held or hands-free.
Since hands-free phones offer no safety advantage, legal exemption for using these devices while driving cannot be justified. We will be writing directly to the minister to argue this point.
* Researchers: Dr Anthony Lambert, PhD, associate director, Research Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Auckland. Associate Professor Samuel G. Charlton, PhD, Traffic & Road Safety Research Group University of Waikato. Associate Professor Liz Franz PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Otago. Ms Charlene Hallett, MSc, Department of Psychology, University of Auckland. Dr Robert Isler PhD, Traffic & Road Safety Research Group University of Waikato. Associate Professor John Perrone PhD, Traffic & Road Safety Research Group University of Waikato. Dr Nicola Starkey PhD, Traffic & Road Safety Research Group University of Waikato.