We’ve all realized over the years that talking causes distracted driving, but research from UIUC has proven that driving actually distracts one from talking. According to the research, driving impairs your ability to comprehend and use language.

“The previous findings made no sense to those of us who have studied language,”said Gary Dell, a psycholinguist in the department of psychology at Illinois and corresponding author on the study. “You might think that talking is an easy thing to do and that comprehending language is easy. But it’s not. Speech production and speech comprehension are attention-demanding activities, and so they ought to compete with other tasks that require your attention – like driving.”

The study reflects the tradeoffs that occur when people try to communicate while performing other tasks, Dell said. “The relative balance of attention to any two tasks is going to vary,” he said. “And perhaps we don’t understand one another as well as we should because of this. With modern technology, we’re talking more and more while we are doing other things, but we may be understanding one another less and less.”

Driven to distraction: New study shows driving hinders talking – UI News Bureau

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn approved a new law yesterday that bans Illinois motorists from texting while driving. The restriction is in hopes to curb distracted driving from Illinois roads. There were 1,192 accidents related to distracted driving in 2008 which lead to 411 injuries and two deaths. The new law takes effect January 1, 2010.

Things you can’t do

• Can’t send or read a text message.
• Can’t send or read an e-mail.
• Can’t Web surf.
• Can’t download ring tones.
• Can’t send an instant message.

Things you can do

• Can text if traffic is stopped and your car is in park or neutral.
• Can text if you pull over onto shoulder.
• Can text if you’re reporting an accident or emergency.
• Can use GPS, even if it’s on your cell phone.

Other fast facts:

• Ticket fines start at $75.
• Text messaging while driving becomes a primary offense that officers can pull you over for, similar to not wearing a seat belt.
• Those under 19 already couldn’t use a cell phone while driving.
• Three text messaging convictions in a year could lead to a suspended license.
• Fourteen other states plus Washington, D.C., already banned text messaging while driving.
• Drivers still can talk on mobile phones without an earpiece, as long as they’re outside Chicago.

Chicago Tribune – Text-ban law for drivers signed by Gov. Pat Quinn