I’m glad to see this study. I’ve often argued with my co-workers; who blame talking on cell phones for every car accident there is; that if I can drive with 3 kids 10 and under I can talk on a hands free cell phone. Nothing is more distracting than kids in a car.
I agree that hands free is safer than manually holding and dialing a phone or texting. But no way is it safer than or equally safe as 100% focused on driving. It is a proven fact that the brain can only focus on one thing at a time. So, listening intently takes away focus on driving and must have an affect on safety.
Correct Jack. I have seen accidents on both. No way is hands off any safer than not using the cell at all. The only safe way to use cells is to pull off the road altogether to do the talking or texting.
I assume the majority of you are men? Have you not driven with kids in your car? Its A LOT easier driving on a hands free cell phone than dealing with 3 kids 10 and under. 100% focused on driving? What a joke.
Great question. Digging around, it looks like it’s mostly funded by various federal agencies: Federal Highway Administration, NHTSA, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, etc. Not seeing any cell phone companies.
So if your brain won’t allow you to drive and talk at the same time with clarity, then the same must hold true with walking and talking; with putting a cake together and talking; with mowing your lawn and talking; or with going canoeing or kayaking and talking!!!
Pedestrian deaths have risen due to cell addicts never taking their eyes and minds off the instrument. They walk right out into traffic which proves they are very distracted.
I’ve witnessed some emotional personal phone calls & stressful business phone calls being made and received while in a vehicle. They can both be distracting.
I think the key is “FOCUS”. On which is your mind focused? Is it concentrating on the conversation you’re having and only secondarily on the task of driving? I think that is the most common scenario. If you have the experience to mentally remain focused on the task of driving and dedicate only passive attention to talking on the phone, then I think hands-free can be less hazardous.
Married people–men especially–have developed this skill over time…gr
I have seen reports (can’t find them now) that indicate that fast songs and songs with a heavy beat are correlated with faster driving. I don’t recall if they led to more accidents/speeding tickets or if slow songs led to more day dreaming.
As Mojo Nixon sang:
I don’t care if it rains or freezes
‘Long as I got my plastic Jesus
Right up on the dashboard of my car.
I can go 100 miles per hour
As long as I’ve got the almighty power
Right up there with my pair of fuzzy dice.
I found this study very helpful and it cleared up alot of questions and comments i had on this topic. I shared this with my family and they found it useful.
I 100% agree, I in fact get rid of all distractions when driving. For example I duct tape my child to the roof so they don’t distract me with their annoying complaints. Now the only thing that distracts me is stupid drivers, and the screams of my children. Got to get my Safe driver checks from All-State. # number1mom #Anti-Vax#Safe driving
I’m glad to see this study. I’ve often argued with my co-workers; who blame talking on cell phones for every car accident there is; that if I can drive with 3 kids 10 and under I can talk on a hands free cell phone. Nothing is more distracting than kids in a car.
I agree that hands free is safer than manually holding and dialing a phone or texting. But no way is it safer than or equally safe as 100% focused on driving. It is a proven fact that the brain can only focus on one thing at a time. So, listening intently takes away focus on driving and must have an affect on safety.
Correct Jack. I have seen accidents on both. No way is hands off any safer than not using the cell at all. The only safe way to use cells is to pull off the road altogether to do the talking or texting.
I assume the majority of you are men? Have you not driven with kids in your car? Its A LOT easier driving on a hands free cell phone than dealing with 3 kids 10 and under. 100% focused on driving? What a joke.
I just want to know who paid for the study…no way that is the case.
Great question. Digging around, it looks like it’s mostly funded by various federal agencies: Federal Highway Administration, NHTSA, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, etc. Not seeing any cell phone companies.
I agree with both of you! So who finances the Second Strategic Highway Research Program?
So if your brain won’t allow you to drive and talk at the same time with clarity, then the same must hold true with walking and talking; with putting a cake together and talking; with mowing your lawn and talking; or with going canoeing or kayaking and talking!!!
Pedestrian deaths have risen due to cell addicts never taking their eyes and minds off the instrument. They walk right out into traffic which proves they are very distracted.
I’ve witnessed some emotional personal phone calls & stressful business phone calls being made and received while in a vehicle. They can both be distracting.
I think the key is “FOCUS”. On which is your mind focused? Is it concentrating on the conversation you’re having and only secondarily on the task of driving? I think that is the most common scenario. If you have the experience to mentally remain focused on the task of driving and dedicate only passive attention to talking on the phone, then I think hands-free can be less hazardous.
Married people–men especially–have developed this skill over time…gr
If it’s unsafe to talk using a hands free, is banning any conversation in a motor vehicle the next step? How about singing along with the radio?
Good grief.
I have seen reports (can’t find them now) that indicate that fast songs and songs with a heavy beat are correlated with faster driving. I don’t recall if they led to more accidents/speeding tickets or if slow songs led to more day dreaming.
How about Hit the Road Jack and don’t you come back no more no more?
I think The Doors had the best advice:
“Keep your eyes on the road; your hand upon the wheel”
That’s some sound advice! We would have also accepted an entry from Golden Earring
No more speed, I’m almost there
Gotta keep cool now, gotta take care
Last car to pass, here I go
As Mojo Nixon sang:
I don’t care if it rains or freezes
‘Long as I got my plastic Jesus
Right up on the dashboard of my car.
I can go 100 miles per hour
As long as I’ve got the almighty power
Right up there with my pair of fuzzy dice.
I found this study very helpful and it cleared up alot of questions and comments i had on this topic. I shared this with my family and they found it useful.
I 100% agree, I in fact get rid of all distractions when driving. For example I duct tape my child to the roof so they don’t distract me with their annoying complaints. Now the only thing that distracts me is stupid drivers, and the screams of my children. Got to get my Safe driver checks from All-State. # number1mom #Anti-Vax#Safe driving