New technologies generally solve problems, but often create new ones. Cell phones are a fantastic new technology, drawing together several technological threads into a quantum leap in convenience and functionality. And they are a blight, of course, requiring the creation of a new landscape of transmission towers, new ettiquette violations and protocols (how do you respond when a student's cell phone goes off in class? I've been going the 'let them be embarrased but don't add to it by reacting' route, myself), and new dangers.

Volokh conspirator Todd Zywicki has found a study which claims to have proven that cell phone users are more dangerous than drunk drivers. The abstract does not clarify the methodology sufficiently that I can be sure that they really controlled for other distracting factors: having a relationship argument, or a toddler, in the car, for example, or singing along with the radio/cd/mp3 player.

But the Japanese did not wait for peer review: new regulations now require fines of 5-7000 yen (that's about US$45-65) for driving while talking on a cell phone. The fines increase with the size of the vehicle: the 5000 yen fine is for using a cell phone while on a small motorcycle! (I suppose, with a properly designed helmet microphone, it could be done: anyone seen it?) I sympathize, but it does raise the question of our inanely low tolerance for certain kinds of risks.

(non-sequitur: I hate evil, too)