U.S. drivers with a high opinion of their ability to multi-task generally disregard warnings and laws against using cell phones while driving, researchers said.

Studies have found that fiddling with cell phones or other wireless devices reduces driving ability to that of someone who is over the legal limit of alcohol, The New York Times reported Sunday.

"A ton of people pass me literally unaware of their surroundings," said Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Matthew Downing, who says he sees oblivious drivers on their phones running red lights and weaving across lanes the same way a drunken driver would.

The perception of the danger, however, seems to be a one-way street, the Times said. A recent survey of drivers by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. found that most respondents admitted they talked while driving, but considered other yakking drivers to be the dangerous ones.