Distracted Driving

Hands-Free Doesn't Mean Risk-Free

by Kristi Caporoso

       Hands-free devices--bluetooths, GPS, voice command cell phones and cars--are society's latest solution to increasing driver safety. They are also a solution to our constant need to be connected and in communication with those around us. However, despite what almost everyone believes, hands-free devices are not necessarily a safe alternative to talking on the phone while driving. It's true that they're less risky than fumbling through your contacts and holding onto the phone with one hand that should be on the wheel, but there is a still a significant distraction present.

       While these devices remove the physical distraction from driving, the mental distraction is still present. As humans we tend to multitask in our everyday lives. However, our brain was not built to multitask, especially not on two complex tasks at once. Trying to focus on two things at once can lead to "inattention blindness" (Kissinger), during which you can look at something and not see it--for example, a stop sign or a pedestrian. According to research, voice-activated devices are a significantly bigger distraction than say, listening to the radio in the car. While driving, they decrease attention and reaction time. Therefore, even though you may not be physically looking away from the road or the steering wheel, you still have a mental distraction that is impeding your ability to drive safely.

       Hands-free devices might be a safer means to communicate while driving, but they are not risk-free. Being mentally distracted can be just as bad as being physically distracted when you are on the road. For now, the experts recommend simply to abstain--put off your phone call until you get where you need to go to prevent distracted driving.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20130612/even-hands-free-devices-unsafe-while-driving-report?page=2