Crossing The Street Can Be Dangerous While Talking On Cell Phone

How distracted do you get when you talk on a cell phone? According to a study out of the University of Alabama, kids who cross the street while talking on a cell phone are at a greater risk of being involved in a deadly accident.

The research was conducted on 77 children ages 10 to 11. They took the kids and used a computer generated street crossing situation to test their reactions. The kids talking on cell phones in the simulation took 20 percent longer to begin crossing the street, and were 43 percent more likely to be hit by a car.

Study leader Dr. David Schwebel says when children multitask and talk on the cell phone, they "have reduced cognitive capacity to devote to potentially dangerous activities, such as crossing streets."

What do you think--are cell phones more of a danger than an advantage?