Can you pass the cell phone driving test?

You wouldn't dream of taking a photo with your mobile phone while driving, but at least it's safe to talk on the phone with a handsfree headset.
...Or it it?

See if you can pass
THE MOBILE PHONE DRIVING TEST

WHICH OF THESE STATEMENTS IS TRUE?

1: I'm breaking the law if I drive while using a hand held mobile phone in the UK.

2: It's legal to talk on my mobile phone while driving if I use a hands free kit.

3: It's safe to talk on my mobile phone while driving if I use a hands free kit.

4: Drink driving is more dangerous than driving while using a mobile.

YOU COULD BE SURPRISED BY THE ANSWERS

1: I'm breaking the law if I drive while using a hand held mobile phone in the UK.

TRUE

The first Park Before You Talk law came into effect in 2003. Result? Most drivers ignored it. Result? The penalties have now been increased. If you're spotted driving while using a hand held mobile phone in the UK, you'll have to fork out a fine of £60. Plus you get three penalty points on your licence.

2: It's legal to talk on my mobile phone while driving if I use a handsfree kit.

TRUE

No problem then. Or is there? ...

3: It's safe to talk on my mobile phone while driving, so long as I use a handsfree kit.

FALSE

What do you think it is that makes talking on a mobile phone while driving dangerous? Holding the telephone?

Yes, that's what I thought too.

Wrong.

You should never take a hand off the wheel while driving. But you may be surprised to learn that this doesn’t slow your reaction time as much as simply talking on a phone.

The conversation's the killer. Your attention gets drawn in to a mobile phone conversation while you’re driving. You start to pay less and less attention to what you’re doing with the car. And unlike a passenger in the car with you, the person you’re talking to doesn’t know what’s going on. They can’t adapt to what you’re dealing with on the road.

4: Drink driving is more dangerous than driving while using a mobile.

FALSE

Believe it or not, drink-driving is less dangerous than driving while talking on a mobile.

Driving reaction is almost 50% slower than normal while talking on the phone. In fact using a mobile, you’re even 30% more sluggish than someone over the legal alcohol limit!

You don't believe me?

The original version of this page ran: "Ask the British Transport Research Laboratory who did the tests. (Or the BBC who provided the information.)"

Since then, more research across the pond by the US Federal Government has reached similar conclusions.

Another study in The British Medical Journal has used actual crash data and phone records. What did they find? According to ZDnet , 'Australian drivers...using cell phones were four times as likely to be involved in a serious crash regardless of whether they used hands-free devices like earpieces or speaker phones.'

TALK ON THE PHONE AND YOU'RE ACCIDENT PRONE

A wired or bluetooth headset for your mobile phone may make phoning from your car easier. A handsfree kit does make it legal to talk on the phone while driving in the uk.

...But only just legal! Talking on the phone makes you accident-prone. If you run into trouble, you can still be prosecuted for careless driving, even if you were using a handsfree kit.