Both are bad, but texting is worse because it actually involves staring at the screen and thumbing through the keys to type and send your message. Since you can use a headset to talk on your cell phone, though still distracting for the driver, is the lesser of the two evils.

Both are bad, but after seeing one of my friends drive while texting, both hands on her phone and steering with her knee... texting is much worse in my opinion.

Honestly, I think both are really pretty dangerous. I've almost been hit crossing the road by people messing with their cell phones. I've been witness to many accidents (and far more near-accidents) because people were texting or talking.

I hate to sound like my dad but... The simple fact is that no matter how good you are at multi-tasking, you're still operating a 3,000 pound piece of machinery at high speeds. Doing anything but paying attention to your driving and the driving of others around you is just dangerous and puts other people at risk.

To that end, my cell phone stays in my purse in the back seat when I drive. If it's that important of a call to put other people at risk, it deserves my attention, and I'll wait until I'm at home.

Texting is WAY worse. At least you can keep your eyes on the road when your talking on it!

Texting - I crashed while texting oops!

texting is a no-no while driving

texting is way worse. i know i'm guilty of texting and driving but i only do it for short answers like yes, on my way, k, or something else. but i've stopped because it's just not safe and whoever it is can really wait or if not, i can just pull over into a gas station or something to respond.

Both are bad, like others have said, but I do believe texting is worse. As long as you're not dialing, talking on the phone isn't THAT distracting - it's like talking to someone who's in the car with you. Texting means having to take your eyes off the road for long stretches of time - always dangerous. But the worst thing I ever saw was on the Schuylkill Expressway in Philadelphia - a notoriously fast and dangerous highway - where I saw a man driving while watching a movie being played on his laptop, which he had propped up in the passenger seat! CRAZY!

suziryder -- Talking on the cell phone ISN'T the same as talking to someone in the car with you cognitively. The differences go beyond just that the other party is somewhere else -- you have to focus more one listening than you might for a conversation with someone in the car, for one thing. (Also, some conversations with someone in the car can potentially become dangerous distractions, depending on circumstances...)

That said, I picked that both are bad, even though I agree that texting adds on top of some of the problems of talking on the cell phone, as I think more people talk on the cell phone without realizing the effect it has, including many who wouldn't text while driving because they understand how that's a danger. Just because your eyes are pointed toward the road and your hands are on the steering wheel doesn't mean you're not distracted...

Texting is worse. Talking is fine if you're using speakerphone or a bluetooth headset.

i do both, but texting is definitely way more dangerous

i believe there is a no texting law in the works. it takes years for laws to go through the process and texting wasnt as much on the radar when the recent CA hands free law first started. i think texting is more dangerous but some people really cant even talk and be any safer, its just a huge distraction either way.

Both are bad, but texting seems a lot worse--you have to be looking at the phone in your hand the whole time while you're doing it. Then someone texts you back, and that sucks all your attention onto the phone yet again. At least driving and talking, dangerous as that is, doesn't necessarily take your eyes off the road.

Texting is only bad IF you have to take your eyes off the road. I rarely drive with both hands on the steering wheel (on the motorway anyway) as its uncomfortable, so whats the big deal if im pushing some buttons? I know my phone inside out, i dont need to look at the screen to do ANY of it.

That said, they should just ban BAD DRIVERS. doesnt matter what your doing, if your a sh** driver, your gonna cause people pain. better education is needed, like in japan where its like 30 hour long courses and a strenuous physical test just to pass. Not like the joke it is in most western countries.

Both are equally bad.

I am guilty of doing both, and recently so. And texting seems a bit worse than talking, because as others have pointed out, the drivers eyes and hand (s) are on the phone typing out a message, which also means that the drivers attention is on the message being typed out. Very dangerous.

I talked and _walked_ at the same time and I almost was ran over by citytrain/metro(?). Feeling stupid

both are bad bad bad!

Some people manage to drive without swerving all over the place. I see more people just not paying attention because they are interested in their phone conversation.

I think texting is worse. You're taking your eyes off the road and using a thumb (or two). Which means you're usually more focused on what you're typing then what's ahead of you on the road.

I know a lot who don't need to look at their phones while texting. However, I still think texting is more dangerous than talking on the phone. Talking comes more naturally than texting.

I live in NY and talking on the phone is banned. I rarely use my phone (talk or text) while driving. Unless I really need to, I use the speakerphone.

ugh, don't do either! they're just asking to get into an accident or even kill someone!

Ugh! I hate when I see people do either. Especially since its illegal in my state (New Jersey). People are the most awful drivers when they are on their cells. I once saw a woman driving so poorly, IN THE RAIN, while talking on a cell with her kids in the car with her. I actually flagged her down and yelled at her. It was just so irresponsible especially since there was someone else in the car to take the call for her (which my family does for each other when we drive together). However, I'm not sure the handsets are any better. I once got stuck behind someone driving so poorly because she was so ingrained into the conversation she was having on her phone and she was using a headset. It's all a dangerous distraction.

I'm biased about this because way before cells became the norm and way before I started driving I heard the story of a mother who leaned over to pick up her cell (this was back when very few people had them) and crashed her car. Her child was killed in the accident. I've remembered the story ever since and it is the reason I get so riled up when I see people talking or texting while driving.

Is anyone else as terrified as I am to know that not only are people texting and driving, but they're READING BOOKS while driving and DOING CROSSWORDS while driving?! And not just at stop lights! I heard that one lady would read a sentence or two, look up, then read another sentence or two. I kid you guys not. People are so dumb, sometimes.

I wish they would stop saying its about not having two hands on the wheel. I drive a stick-shift and I never have two hands on the wheel because I can't. Its about being distracted and multi-tasking while in a the car, not that you don't keep a 2 and 10 grip.

No texting!

I voted texting. Both are bad, but texting is the worse. There is no way a person can pay attention to the road and type/read at the same time.

Both are pretty bad, but texting is WAY worse. Even though some people maybe able to text without looking, there are going to be times when they want to look down at what they are typing which can be dangerous. Talking on the phone is really no better, but at least you're looking at the road, and can still recognize when you're about to hit something!

The government probably assumed that people waren't stupid enough to text while driving.

Little did they know...

This law has pissed me off since I heard it was coming (luckily I just moved out of Cali).

I happened to study the effects of talking on your cell phone while driving for a Cognitive Psychology class in college. Turns out its the attention you give to the conversation that impairs your reaction time while driving - whether you're holding a phone or have an ear thingy in makes very little difference. Having the radio loud, or talking to your friends in the backseat can impare your reaction time just as much as talking on the phone. (And geek sugar readers are right texting is more dangerous talking).

To be a safe driver you need to give the road your attention - that law is just a way for politicians to look good, the state to make money on tickets, and cell phone companies to make you buy their accessories.

I bet the truth will come out soon - there'll be no difference in cell phone call related accidents - or there will more, because its much more dangerous to fumble around for your earpiece vs just answering the normal way! I think there are much bigger legislative issues that should have been addressed first...

I would def say texting b/c it takes your thoughts AND eyes off the road at the same time

Texting is definitely worse, at least if you're holding the phone to your ear, you're still looking at the road, not your phone. There's a bill that closes that dangerous loophole...to go into effect next year, I believe. I can't remember the bill # but they're aware of the ridiculous exception and they're workin' on it!

ARGH Why would you be doing anything except concentrating on the road?!

I will admit to having read a text on the road. Shame on me. It was directions to my destination, but still.

I answer the phone when I'm driving, but I will ignore the phone conversation before I will ignore my driving. My mom gives me forty-immortal-hells for spacing out on her, but I tell her every time it's either that or a wreck.

They are both horrible and I can't believe stupid people think it is okay to do one or the other, or even both. This is why driving (esp in Cali) makes me nervous. Idiots who can't stop playing on their cell phones when they should be focusing on the road.

Sorry to bump this, but I would just like to say that one of my friends was killed when a driver coming down the opposite lane swerved into her own.

The most probable reason?

The woman who hit her was texting while driving. Both the woman and my friend were killed on impact.

The office police report hasn't come out yet, but all signs point to it.

So, anyone who texts while driving: Think about it twice.

you should look up the canadian texting while driving video it clearly shows what can and will happen if you do it, only a matter of time! Seriously, can you just hear your pastor at your funeral..because "rebecca" couldn't wait to talk to her friends she died trying to text...cmon stop it!! plus you idiots drive like lunatics when you are doing it!!

Think about it people in the other cars are someones daughter, mother, father, friend..if you don't care about yourself atleast care about yourself atleast care about everone else on the road...nothing is worse as getting a call or a visit saying your loved one has been killed by someone who was texting while driving..they say it's as worse as drinking and driving..why would you do it!!!! Ignorance I suppose!