Is Future Tense a driving hazard?

Today's Future Tense (RealAudio - MP3 - iTunes) featured an interview with a researcher who found listening to someone talk seriously diminishes driving capacity.

New research at Carnegie Mellon University casts doubt on the effectiveness of of laws that require drivers to use hands-free devices when talking on cell phones.

Using brain imaging technology, researchers found listening to someone speak sharply diminishes activity in the parts of the brain used to control a car. Research subjects had the brains scanned on a driving simulator, and those listening to recorded sentences were much more likely to stray from their paths and hit virtual barriers.

Psychology professor Marcel Just says the driving simulation did not force drivers to react to dangerous situations, so his study probably underestimates the negative effects of talking while driving.

Several listeners have pointed out that I should have asked the researcher whether listening to the radio poses the same danger as talking on a cell phone. Here's how one listener put it:

According to the research as it was reported, the problem was listening. Fumbling for phones was a problem. Texting while driving was a problem. But the story focused on how listening to phone calls, unlike listening to passengers who can pay attention to changing driving conditions, distracted a driver.

Surely you see the irony of this story on the radio. I was listening to it at 8:20am while driving. Now I'm no fan of drivers on the phone. But if "listening" is the problem, I should not have been listening to your story but should have had the radio off as well.

Good point. I made an unfortunate editing choice that left out a reference to radio listening. What Professor Just told me is that it's logical to conclude radio negatively affects driving ability, but drivers have control over the radio, so the effect can be mitigated in challenging traffic conditions.

In the mood for more irony? I conducted the first part of the interview on my cell phone while driving. I can report that I pulled over as soon as it was safe to do so. But during the first part of my talk with Just, I felt like I was not driving well. I just couldn't.

Thanks, Jon, for posting the followup. I too, was driving when I heard the story and had half a notion to call APM from my cell but the only number that came to me was the pledge number for MPR! Glad to hear that my NPR/MPR listening adiction probably doesn't affect my driving. Love your program and am glad to find the blog now, too. Keep up the good work.