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News: Hands-free cell phones are not safe for driving Taking into consideration that driving is a complex activity, that for each mile driven the driver has to take at least 20 decisions and that he has less than half a second to avoid a collision, someone can easily realize how important is any delay of the visual information processing can be and what disastrous consequences this delay can have.... Read more |
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According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some form of driver distraction is a contributing factor in 20 to 30 percent of all crashes. |
September 2003
Driver distraction is a significant cause of road accidents. A driver's primary obligation is to give his or her full attention to operating the motor vehicle safely.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), indicate that some form of driver distraction is a contributing factor in 20 to 30 percent of all crashes.
Talking on a hands-free cell phone while driving a car, is no less dangerous than when driving and talking on a hand-held mobile device.
A number of studies by the University of Utah and the National Road Administration for the Swedish Government done between 2001 and 2003, have demonstrated that hands-free technology may not reduce the risk of accidents. This is mainly because the reason of distraction is the phone conversation.
The phenomenon of "inattention blindness" has been described by the Utah researchers. The drivers look but do not see the objects in the driving visual scenes, they process much slower the visual information received, they have much slower reaction times and they are more accident prone.
As a driver's first responsibility is the safe operation of the vehicle, it is better not to use any electronic devices including hands-free cell phones that may distract him from driving.
In the article included in our eighth monthly newsletter, Hands-free cell phones are not safe for driving, you will find information from the evidence available till today about driver's distraction from hand-held and hands-free mobile devices.
Although legislation does not cover all aspects of using cell phones while driving and that this legislation is different in many countries, it is up to the responsibility of each of us as drivers to understand and imply those measures which will not allow a decrease in our attention while driving and minimize the risk of accidents because of distraction.
And let us not forget that we have less than a half a
second to avoid a collision or avoid hitting a pedestrian or a cyclist
suddenly entering our way.
Takis A. Haggiandreou
Director
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There is today a bulk of evidence converging to the fact that hands-free technology does not decrease the risk of road accidents and that it is an additional factor for less road safety. |
Our Proverb:
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