A full state House committee will take up the of issue of calling while driving. A subcommittee last week voted out a bill that would ban text-messaging and using a hand held cell phones while driving. The House Transportation Subcommittee passed the bill on a 6-0 vote, but defeated an amendment to exclude cell phones. The cell phone part will be decided in full committee or on the House floor. Some lawmakers say the support does not exist in the House to ban cell phones while driving.

University of South Carolina psychology researcher Amit Almor has completed two studies that examine how texting and cell phone usage puts demands on the brain’s resources.

Dr. Almor says language and driving are complex activities that tax the brain in many ways, and that texting adds another layer of language and motor skills, which makes for a dangerous combination.

Almore says regular cell phone usage is not in the same category as texting. He has recommended a ban on texting while driving, but not cell phone usage.

(Almor on cell phones  Mp3
Almor on cell phones Mp3 1:40

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