Thanks for the info Saira,

Advanced scientists realize that we only have accidents when we need to.

As we know there are no accidents in the universe, everything happens for a reason.

If we want to reduce the number of accidents we need to eliminate the need for them. One of the quickest ways to eliminate accidents is to teach Mindfulness and to seeing the world and traffic as all one body. This would have an immediate impact.

I love smart people, like the ones that did this research. We need more smart people in the right places.

The problem is that smart people tend not to follow conventional paths (the herd). Quite often enterprises are looking for people that followed the conventional path and adhere to the status quo.

Generally the conventional paths are where people are taught to follow instructions not create them, or have original thought.

The cows munch on grass, growing themselves for slaughter and leather goods, while the Eagle soars overhead free to be.

U of C did a study on crime and the right to concealed carry a fire arm. States with concealed-carry laws, crime went down and down hard. Lawmakers still debate this issue by saying it will lead to higher crime, when in fact, the opposite occurs. This is why in my post I said basically that I wasn't surprised by this research.

Reminds me of the quote:
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics"

I can hardly wait for the day when everyone packs a rod and drives ten miles under the speed limit, weaving aimlessly from lane to lane, with a cell phone stuck to the side of their head.
Only then will I know we have achieved world peace!
:o)

Hey Saira,
Let's say for example you were driving down the freeway your cell phone rang (you answered it) and it happened to be (me) on the other end.
You wouldn't be causing accidents, disasters and stuff would you?
Laughs,
Todd

Doesn't line up with my actual experience. Too many drivers, while using cell phones have:

1. pulled onto the road in front of me without looking
2. run stop signs or stoplights due to unawareness of the condition of the lights.
3. been unaware of drivers in their "blind spots" which they would have seen if they were checking their mirrors

I also find that if I use my cell while driving, after I hang up I immediately become aware of many things on the road that I was not observing before.

And there are studies that show a definite drop-off in peripheral perception (a skill used frequently in driving) even when a driver is using a hands-free phone. Simply put, the attention is on the conversation happening between the driver's ears, and not on the road.

There are many factors relating to car crash rates. A simple one-to-one correspondence of an increase in car crash rates to cell-phone usage is probably not an accurate criterion.

For example, if local authorities have succeeded in reducing DUI's and alcohol related accidents rates due to new local or national programs, this would drive the rate down. An increase due to cell phones would then be masked because other factors were driving the rate down.

And that's just one thing. Any reasonable study would have to research and eliminate all other efforts taken at reducing car crashes to effectively make a one-to-one correspondence.

This smacks of the "my mother smoked and lived to be ninety therefore smoking isn't harmful" or "My grandpa was an alcoholic but never got diabetes, so alcohol is good for you" type of argument.

I am not satisfied by the study that the researchers did not set out to prove a point and therefore their methods were not skewed by a pre-assumed result.

If the phone companies hire them right out of college, then we'll really know.

Yep, looks like more statistics being used for fools to believe as truth. I Guess it is easy for someone to put such numbers together and believe them from behind a desk. Try driving out there with those who are on the phone!!