Hands Free Technology Does Little to Mitigate Distracted Driving Risk

February 06, 2013

Hands Free Technology Does Little to Mitigate Distracted Driving Risk

In recent years, the proliferation of smart phones and Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation devices has changed the way that people in the United States travel on the highway. Some of these changes have been good: drivers on long trips can use their phones to easily stay in touch with loved ones and commuters can use their navigation systems to help bypass construction and arrive at their destinations on time. Other changes, however - most significantly, the rise in distracted driving related accidents - have been bad. Unfortunately, there do not seem to be any technological quick fixes to the problem.

Danger of Distracted Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,092 people died and an additional 419,000 were injured in car accidents involving distracted drivers in 2010, the last year for which statistics are available. Overall, distracted driving related crashes accounted for approximately 18 percent of all motor vehicle accidents that year.

Although distraction while driving takes many forms, experts agree that texting while driving presents one of the most serious threats. Unlike other behaviors - eating, for example, or adjusting the radio - texting requires a driver to remove his hands from the wheel and divert his eyes and attention from the road.

Because texting has emerged as a primary means of communication for many, motor vehicle and phone manufacturers have attempted to develop hands free technology that allows people to text safely while behind the wheel. These systems not only read texts to drivers as they are received, but also allow drivers to compose texts by speaking. The belief is that these systems are safer than using a phone because they allow the driver to keep his hands and eyes on the wheel.

Hands Free Technology Just as Dangerous as Texting

Although this theory sounds promising, a recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute indicates that these hands free systems are just as dangerous as traditional texting. The study, published last year, compared two groups of drivers on a closed course: one group used their phones to text and the other group used a hands free device to compose texts. Researchers were surprised to discover that the driving of both groups was equally as poor. While those with the hands free devices were able to receive texts without significant problems, composing texts proved to be a challenge. Even composing a text as simple as, "I'm stuck in traffic" required enough of the drivers' cognitive attention to negatively impact their driving skills.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can assess your case and help you get the fair and adequate compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. For more information about how a personal injury attorney can help you, contact a lawyer today.

Article provided by JAMES & ZIMMERMAN PL
Visit us at http://www.jz-law.com