Is Driving While Using a Cell Phone as Dangerous as Driving Drunk? Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters” Answers the Question

In a recent episode, Mythbusters undertook the task of testing the validity of the belief that using a cell phone while driving is as dangerous as driving drunk.

I greatly enjoy watching Mythbusters. For those of you who don't know, Discovery Channel's "Mythbusters" is a seriously scientific show devoted to proving or disproving the validity of a variety of commonly held beliefs. The twist is in the outrageous manner in which the hosts conduct their experimentation. Usually there is an element of danger, and frequently explosives are involved. Mythbusters always provides a lot of laughs. It is Mr. Science meets Jackass.

As always, Mythbusters conducted their experimentation following the classic scientific method. There was a hypothesis, a control was conducted, variables were applied, data was collected and analyzed, and a conclusion was determined.

For this experiment two testers, Adam and Carrie, drove on a closed course. Adam and Carrie had several driving tasks to perform; a breaking test, time trial (maintaining an average speed on a serpentine course), accident avoidance, and (dah, dah, da!) parallel parking.

The first time through the course neither driver had the distraction of cell phone or alcohol impairment, and they both passed. Then things got interesting.

Next, the two drivers attempted to negotiate the test course while talking on their cell phones. While performing the same driving tasks as before, Adam and Carrie were asked to repeat a statement, answer a riddle, list 5 objects found in the car with them, and give a narrative explanation of what they do at work.

Finally, the drivers attempted to negotiate the test course while mildly alcoholically impaired. Before getting behind the wheel, each test driver drank just enough beer to register below the legal limit on a breathalyzer test. The legal limit they used was .08, so Carrie drank until she registered .075, and Adam drank until he registered .07.

The results of the cell phone test and the beer test where strikingly similar. Both Adam and Carrie failed half the prescribed driving tasks.

Mythbusters stamped the results of their testing as CONFIRMED.