Why do people drive so slow when they are talking on their cellphones? In the last ten years, there has been a lot of debate about cellpohone usage while driving, but most of the discussion centered around general lack of focus on the road and poor reaction reflexes. Nowhere have I specifically seen below-speed driving as a consequence of cellphone use. BUT IT IS.
Do you notice people 'meandering' down the road during your morning commute, unconcerned about what lane they're in or whether others are constantly passing them? Look for the cellphone, you will find it 9 times out of 10 (the 10th driver is some old lady who probably needs her license pulled). These people are not fumbling around while talking, with their eyes not even facing front half the time (as you see if some of those hidden-video reports); they are calmly driving as if they are the only car on a 25-mph street.
I'm sure these cell-heads don't think they are driving slow: they are like my pot-soaked friends in college, who compensated for their addled state by driving VERY CAREFULLY, presumably to avoid attracting attention from the local police (as if driving 15 mph in a 40 mph zone is unnoticeable).
My original plan was simply to tolerate these idiots, since according to the reports they will all get in wrecks anyway; this is the 'natural sleection' of the cellphone world, you see. Now I might take a more radical approach, like trying to 'jolt' them out of their stupor by driving recklessly all around them. They are considering passing a law here banning the use of cellphones in vehicles, so maybe with that we will have a 1-800-THEY-TALK hotline to call the cops on offenders.
I understand the allure of using the cellphone while driving, since it gives you some sense of productivity during this "downtime." I can even accept some cellphone usage for the morning and evening commutes, when traffic is almost at a standstill anyway. But the rest of the time, STAY OFF THE PHONE or learn to drive better while you're talking! Make sure you are going AT LEAST the speed limit! GET OUT OF THE CENTER LANE!
This might be an example of a technological "advancement" that is degrading our quality of life. At this point I wouldn't mind going back to that time, a least there was some sanctuary in the vehicle and reasonable speed moving you on down the road.