Eighty percent of American drivers believe hands-free devices are safer than handheld. That is not the case. More than thirty studies show hands-free devices are no better since the brain remains distracted by the conversation. When talking on a phone, drivers can miss seeing up to half of what’s around them; traffic lights, stop signs, and pedestrians to name a few. According to the opens in a new windowNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is a leading cause of auto accidents and crash fatalities.
Hands-Free REALITY
- Hands-free features in dashboards increase mental distraction
- Using voice-to-text is more distracting than typing texts
- Drivers who text with their hands or voice keep eyes on the road less often and have reaction times twice as slow.
Safety On the Road
opens in a new windowAccess more information on Distracted Driving and safety resources from The National Safety Council you can share with others.
Breaking the Habit
The ringing of a phone or pinging of a text creates irresistible urges for many people to answer respond. To avoid these temptations:
- Turn off your phone, or put it on DO NOT DISTURB, before driving.
- Toss your cell phone in the trunk or glove box.
- Pre-set your navigation system and music playlists before driving.
- Schedule stops to check voicemails, emails and texts.
- Set special ring tones for important incoming calls, and pull off to a safe place to take them.
- Tell coworkers, family and friends not to call or text you when they know you’re driving.
- Start all conference calls by asking if anyone is driving, and have them call back when they are in a safe location.
- Install an app on your phone that disables it while your vehicle is in motion.
- Ask a passenger to answer incoming calls and say, “You’ll call back when not driving.”
- Change your voicemail greeting to tell people that you may be driving and you’ll call them back when you can safely do so.
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