Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Psychology Students Teach Teens the Dangers of Texting While Driving

http://news.gmu.edu/articles/6023




I chose to add this article to my PLE strictly because I really like the idea.  Psychology graduate students from George Mason University, “adapted a popular racing video game into a portable demonstration of what it’s like to text message and drive at the same time.” (Paragraph 2)   After a few students drove the course using their full attention, they tried it again while answering a text message.  They found that even the kids who did great the first round, did poorly when distracted by their cell phone.  “This showed them that it has nothing to do with experience — you can’t divide your attention like that, no matter how good you are at driving.” (Paragraph 5)  I would like this little test to be a requirement to get your license!  A lot of states are working towards new laws that will make it illegal to use a cell phone while driving, but this test or something like it, could be used to prove to people why the new laws are desperately needed.

No comments:

Post a Comment