A study published by the Journal of Experiential Psychology: Applied demonstrates that driving while talking on the phone, even if using a hands free device, is not safe at all. The study even states that driving while talking on the phone is the same as driving under the influence of alcoholic drinks.

Researchers proved that using a hands free device, like a Bluetooth headset, is as distracting as holding the phone to your ear, and takes away most of the driver’s concentration. This is mainly because while talking on the phone one must concentrate a lot more on the context of the conversation than when talking to somebody face to face, where the body language is also available.

The study also shows that talkative passengers are not the same with mobile phone conversations, as passengers are actually in the car and can stop when driving becomes more challenging.

Passengers can also react when the driver seems to need more concentration behind the wheel, can point out different dangerous situations and being in the car can observe and analyze the situation and know when to shut up. People at the end of a cell phone don’t know all these things and cannot react like passengers in a car.

All in all, driving while talking on the phone is not safe, and now this is being proven. The next following step would be to ban talking on the phone while driving, in order to assure maximum safety on the roads and highways.