It really shouldn’t be news that using an iPod while driving is dangerous—as dangerous as talking on your cell phone. But a Drexel University study is making the rounds with just such a conclusion.
On the one hand, this seems like common sense. Using an iPod usually requires you to take your eyes off the road, and at least one hand off the wheel. Naturally, that’s not the safest way to operate what my driver’s ed teacher repeatedly referred to as “two tons of glass and steel.” I’ll come out and admit that I’ve used my iPod while driving plenty of times. And I drive a stick shift. (I fully expect that within five minutes of posting this, at least one of my parents is going to call me or send me an upset email.) Usually I just leave the iPod on shuffle and reach down to skip the song if I don’t want to listen to it, which isn’t really worse than adjusting the radio, in my opinion. But sure, it’s a distraction.
Now, on the flip side, this study is hardly conclusive. For one thing the sample size was small: only 12 people. The test was conducted by a computer science professor using a driving simulator; the participants chose music, podcast, and videos. Selecting the tracks caused most of the subjects to veer to the left or right and reduce speed. Unsurprisingly (and terrifyingly), watching videos affected the speed at which the drivers followed another car.
I've actually had two iPod related accidents. I rear ended my brother at a stop light while changing songs. Then, as an anecdote to define insanity, I rear ended some other lady about a year later while messing with my iPod. Now it's NPR for me.