Which is more dangerous a drunk driver or a cellphone driver?

Question

I cant tell which I am better at but both at the same time, now that is a challenge.

Answer 1

I'd have to say it totally depends on the driver. I know some people who actually function rather well with a few drinks in them, not that I recommend driving while under the influence of alcohol.

On the same side of the coin, I have seen some cell phone users that shouldn't walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone be driving a car while chatting on the phone. While others realize that their focus must remain on the road and do a great job at that rather talking to passengers or on the phone. (Which is about the same difference.)

Now drunk people talking on the cell phone and driving... you might be onto real risky behavior there!

Answer 2

Although there are instances where a cellphone driver and a drunk driver can cause the same damage, or even more, I still think that drunk driver are more dangerous. I have seen that mythbusters episode, but none the less. You can always put down a cell phone if something dangerous would happen on the road. When you are drunk, you can't just stop being drunk. You have trouble focusing, and you can cause a lot more damage. Plus, if you drink enough, you can pass out, throw up, ect., which will cause even more damage.

Answer 3

Do not rely on published statistics.

After an accident, the drunk's body can be tested for alcohol level in the blood. The cell phone user can claim to not having been on the phone, so unless the police actually find the cell phone and run the lugs, this lie is easier to get away with.

There are also accidents where one driver has left scene of accident ... if that driver was drunk or on cell phone, it might never get determined what their condition was.

There are degrees of both.
How much alcohol is in the blood.
Cell phone stuck to ear in such a way that person can still use both hands for driving.

Answer 4

Studies across the globe have concluded that driving while using a cell phone is more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol. The studies show that even hands free devices are more dangerous than a drunk driver.

Results showed a clear trend for significantly poorer driving performance (speed control and response time) when using a hand-held phone in comparison to the other conditions. The best performance was for normal driving without phone conversations. Hands-free was better than hand-held.

Driving performance under the influence of alcohol was significantly worse than normal driving, yet better than driving while using a phone. Drivers also reported that it was easier to drive drunk than to drive while using a phone. It is concluded that driving behavior is impaired more during a phone conversation than under the influence of alcohol.

Answer 5

I think they both are.the only thing about it is a drunk driver have killed more people and caused a lot more disabilities,but the cellphone driver,given enough time will probably be the same way.Believe me i have seen a lot of careless cellphone drivers in my area.

Answer 6

I think they are both the same. Two years ago I was in a bad accident. A lady ran a red light. We hit her at 60mph. She was on her phone. I was hurt. It was a bad accident. She also had no insurance. I am left with a knee injury forever from that.

One month ago a truck ran a stop sign and t-boned my Dad. It severed his arm. They were able to save it, but he will never be the same or work a normal job again. The kid was on his cell phone. He had crappy insurance and there was no settelment for my Dad and his medicals bills are going to approach 7 figures.

I don't talk and drive. I don't drink and drive. In one minute you can change someones life forever For what. Because you drank too much or could not wait five minutes to talk to someone or pull over? People please don't let this happen anymore. Harsher punishments need to be given. It angers me when I see people talk and drive. They just don't care.

Answer 7

I think it's the drunk driver. Depending on how much he is intoxicated, he can be dangerous because he is not aware of his actions.

However I've seen a guy texting on a Sidekick on the road.

Answer 8

Neither. A police driver, on the lookout for cellphone drivers and drunk drivers is much more dangerous, as all their concentration is elsewhere.

Answer 9

A cell phone driver.

Answer 10

It's actually surprisingly about the same. Mythbusters did a show on it a while back, testing the driving ability of someone on the phone vs. someone at the max legal blood alcohol limit. The results were about the same.

HBJ