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We all know that talking on a cell phone can impair¹ our ability to drive (although too many of us do it anyway). Now a study in the journal Psychonomic Bulletin and Review shows that the reverse is also true: driving makes it hard to keep track of what we’re talking about.

Previous studies had found that motorists are able to converse² just fine. But to Gary Dell of the University of Illinois that finding just didn’t make sense. Because comprehending speech requires attention, as does steering³ the family sedan. So Dell did a study in a driving simulator.

Ninety-six participants were paired up, with one taking the wheel while the other sat in the passenger seat or talked to the driver on a hands-free phone. Each participant listened to and was asked to repeat a handful of stories, and then to remember them after getting out of the car. As you can imagine, the drivers had a tougher time recalling the details than the passengers. And their conversational⁴ skills took the biggest nosedive while they were trying to navigate⁵ intersections⁶ or handle traffic.

Next, maybe the scientists will determine whether driving also impairs⁷ our ability to sing, eat breakfast, and put on makeup⁸. And, of course, text.

—Karen Hopkin