What's the difference between listening to music and talking on a cell while driving?

[Tab]

Is it the interaction? Why does this make us lose our focus on the road?

 

[iamtrout]

Or how about this? I've heard studies have shown that talking on the cell diverts more attention from the driver than talking with a person who's actually in the car.

 

[Safeway]

You have to think about talking ... it's not the same at all.

 

[daniel1113]

Good question... I find talking to another passenger to be much more distracting than talking on a cell phone, but I would think something passive like music would be at a different level.

 

[aplefka]

If you sing along with the music or if it triggers certain emotions then I could see if being distracting.

 

[Calin]

I can see the problem when not using a handsfree system. I sometime drive with a single hand, but if I need both, I can use them in half a second or so. The main reason for not using them is that at some time it requires the driver's visual attention (find the phone, put it back somewhere). Listening to music doesn't require visual attention (usually) - however, I think there will be a huge outcry if you wouldn't be allowed to change tapes/cassetes/radio stations except when stopped

 

[imported_Soldier]

To sum it up...driving while yaking on the cell is like jogging listening to music through head phones. You did'nt really expect to notice that dog sneaking up on you did you?

 

[stevty2889]

It's a little easier to change the station on the radio without looking at it, than it is to dial a cell phone..there isn't as much of a problem with the cell phone as a destraction, if it's a hands free phone with voice activated dialing. If you have that, you just put on your headset and say blah blah blah. If you have to pick up the phone, look at it, press the buttons to dial it, that makes it kinda difficult to concentrate on the road..and if you have to hold on to it as well, then you have slightly less control as you only have one hand free..especialy if your driving a stick..

 

[Sunner]

Listening to music is very passive, you just listen, sometimes not even that, when talking you're actively participating.
I can actually notice this with phone calls too, once in a while I've talked on the phone while in the car, and if it's just some babbling on about stuff I don't care about, I drive just as well as I do without the phone since I don't actually listen, I just say "Uhu" once in a while.

That said, I make it a point not to talk on the phone while in the car these days, since I believe that to be reckless and respectless to your fellow drivers.