You are not the consumer of information, information is consuming your attention. Distraction from phone use is responsible for 14% of all injury-related car crashes and 8% of all fatal accidents. Using a mobile phone while driving forces drivers to focus on an additional task, impairing their ability to drive safely. Drivers who text while driving are eight times more likely to be involved in a crash. This cognitive distraction increases the risk of accidents, reduces hazard detection, and leads to poor situational awareness.
Mobile distractions result in drivers missing up to 50% of the information in their driving environment. Research shows that drivers using cell phones have slower reaction times than those impaired by alcohol. Using a smartphone for social networking – slows reaction time by 37.60%. Texting – slows reaction time by 37.40%. Alcohol – slows reaction time by 10-30%. Hands-free mobile phone conversation – slows reaction time by 26.50%
Listening to someone on the other end of a phone call reduces brain activity in areas responsible for driving by 37%. When holding a phone for conversation, reaction times slow by around 50%, compared to 26% slower with hands-free devices.The risk of using a phone while driving can indeed be compared to drunk driving. Casual phone conversations are comparable to mild intoxication (1-2 beers). Texting or using social media is similar to moderate intoxication (3-4 beers). Watching short videos, such as TikToks or Reels, is equivalent to being heavily intoxicated (5+ beers), drastically reducing attention and increasing reaction times.
It’s crucial to remember this for your own safety and to be more cautious around drivers with phones in their hands—treat them as if they were drunk and adjust your driving accordingly.
A comparison of the cell phone driver and the drunk driver Hum Factors 2006 Summer;48(2):381-91.A comparison of the effect of mobile phone use and alcohol consumption on driving simulation performance Traffic Inj Prev 2012;13(6):566-74.