Hands-Free Cell Phone Devices

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Question: When you are driving down the road using a cell phone, is using a hands-free devise safer than holding the phone up to your ear? (Presenter - Let them answer)

A new study in the National Safety Council's Journal of Safety Research concludes there is little difference between the driving safety risk of using hands-free cell phones and using hand held phones. The study confirms that any form of cell phone use is a distraction that detracts from the brain's ability to focus on safe driving.

Researchers found hands-free and handheld phones are equally dangerous for drivers. Both types of phones:

  • Cause more accidents and driving errors
  • Impair reaction times
  • Slow down overall vehicle speed

"It's just not possible for our brains to focus on the road and the call or text," said David Teater, NSC senior director of transportation strategic initiatives.

In January, NSC became the first national organization to call for a total ban on cell phone use while driving. Learn more about the science of distracted driving from the National Safety Council website at www.nsc.org


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Joseph Fick replied the topic: #163
I have to pose a question, which is more distracting;
Turning your head to talk to your passenger (which statically we all DO)
or
Keeping both HANDS on the wheel and EYES on the road and talking into your HANDS FREE BLUETOOTH EARPIECE?

Just a question.
helpfulpete's Avatar
helpfulpete replied the topic: #399
A passenger in you vehicle is aware of the situation and conditions you are experiencing as a driver. They are interacting in the same environment and therefor are unconsciously and consciously changing their expectations of the conversation. some one on the other end of the phone is removed from your situation and has no appreciation of where and when your attention is shifting.
mallyx's Avatar
mallyx replied the topic: #417
Provided your passenger is aware enough to take road conditions into account when talking. What if they are a child, they have no awareness of the road conditions whatsoever. So do we ban children travelling in cars?
Steven Daniel replied the topic: #521
I am a supervisor for a railroad transport company We are trained to use a 6 second following rule, looking into the future at least 16 sec, Checking the mirror every few seconds and staying aware of the area around the Van. Do you think using Bluetooth is anymore distracting to a driver than trying to do these things? How safe is pulling over to answer a call on a busy road-way.
"It's just not possible for our brains to focus on the road and the call or text," said David Teater, NSC senior director of transportation strategic initiatives.
How many things is your brain doing while driving. Think about it.
Lets get a handle on fatigue driving first.