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Hands-Free Driving Not as Safe as You Think?

Hands-Free Driving Not as Safe as You Think?

Using hands-free devices while driving can reduce some kinds of distraction because a driver isn’t holding a mobile device in their hands.  For example, manual distractions are reduced because a driver’s hands can remain on the steering wheel, and visual distractions are reduced because the driver doesn’t have to look down to tap a smartphone or read messages.  However, hands-free devices can still cause cognitive distractions, because a driver’s thoughts are elsewhere when engaging in a phone conversation or thinking about things other than traffic on the road.

According to a National Safety Council (NSC) whitepaper, multi-tasking is a myth, because human brains do not perform two tasks at the same time.  Instead, the brain handles tasks sequentially, switching between one task and the other.  This “attention switching” can cause a person to feel like they are multi-tasking when, in reality, they are not.  The brain juggles focus and attention.  Brain researchers have identified “reaction time switching costs,” which show that a person trying to focus on multiple things simultaneously will reduce their reaction time to all tasks involved.  These researchers showed that even hands-free phone conversations caused slowed reaction time among drivers facing road hazards.  A driver’s response to sudden hazards — such as another driver’s erratic behavior, road debris, weather conditions, work zones, animals, or potholes — can mean the difference between a crash and a near-crash.

Drivers using hands-free devices have a tendency to “look at” but not “see” objects.  Because visual acuity is critically important to safe driving, visual inattention can make driving more dangerous.  Researchers indicate that drivers using even hands-free devices look at but fail to see up to 50% of the information in their driving environment.  Distracted drivers experience “inattention blindness,” meaning they are looking out the windshield, but do not mentally process everything in the roadway environment to effectively monitor their surroundings.  The brain’s ability to process moving images diminishes as much as one-third when talking on the phone.

Not only is a driver’s visual attention diminished by using hands-free devices, but their response time is also slowed.  A University of Utah driving simulator study found that drivers using mobile devices had slower reaction times than drivers impaired by alcohol with a 0.08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the legal intoxication limit.  Drivers talking on hands-free phones in simulated work zones took longer to reduce their speed when following a slow-moving vehicle, and they were more likely to brake hard than drivers not on the phone.  Side-swipe crashes were more common among drivers using hands-free devices, and these drivers often struggled to stay in their own lane.

Is Bluetooth Use While Driving Legal in California?

In California, it is illegal to drive while using a handheld cell phone (California Vehicle Code [VC] §23123). Drivers are also prohibited from texting while driving (VC §23123.5).  It is legal to use a hands-free Bluetooth cell phone connection to your speakers, but it is illegal to use Bluetooth headphones in both ears while driving.

State laws governing the use of mobile devices while driving are evolving rapidly, and they vary from state to state.  What is legal in Tennessee may not be legal in Oregon.  Technology is moving much faster than laws are, leaving a lot of gray area for motorists to interpret what’s okay and what’s not okay when using in-cabin mobile and navigational devices.

Hands-Free Doesn’t Mean Distraction Free

Distracted driving caused 3,308 fatalities in the U.S. in 2022, and it remains a significant cause of vehicle injury accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  More than 8% of all crash deaths nationwide were due to distracted driving.  Distracted driving is any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the road, including talking or texting on a mobile phone, fiddling with a navigation system, eating, drinking, and talking to other passengers in the vehicle.   An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) survey found that more than 20% of U.S. drivers reported engaging in at least one smartphone-based distraction while sitting behind the steering wheel, such as making video calls, watching YouTube videos, or using social media.  These drivers said they engaged in this activity on most of their vehicle trips.

Hands-free doesn’t mean distraction free.  To ensure safety, motorists must be fully engaged in driving.  Any non-driving activity can lower a motorist’s level of attention and response time, increasing the risk of crashing.

Do Hands-Free Devices Reduce Car Accidents?

Whether or not hands-free devices reduce car accidents is open to debate.  A study published in Epidemiology journal showed that comprehensive handheld bans were associated with fewer driver fatalities.  Almost everyone agrees that banning handheld devices reduces traffic collisions and motorist deaths.  But the research is still somewhat mottled regarding hands-free devices and whether they reduce car accidents.  Most consumers believe that hands-free devices significantly curtail crashes, but the research doesn’t necessarily bear that out.

If you’ve been injured in a vehicle accident where the other driver was distracted while using a mobile device, you might be entitled to financial compensation.  Using handheld devices while driving is illegal in California, and even hands-free devices can reduce a driver’s awareness and response time to road hazards.  A skilled car accident lawyer can explain your legal rights and advise you about filing a personal injury claim.

Neale & Fhima Will Fight to Get The Compensation You Deserve

At Neale & Fhima, we will fight aggressively to achieve the maximum payout possible in your case.  We treat clients like family.  Our outstanding legal team is compassionate, caring, and communicates frequently, so you’ll always know the status of your claim.  We’re transparent, honest, and straightforward with our clients.  Attorney Aaron Fhima is among the best and the brightest.  We discuss the law and educate our clients, so they feel informed.  Our satisfied clients can attest to our skill, and they often refer friends and family to our law firm.  For a free initial consultation about your case, call us at 888-407-2955.

Attorney Aaron Fhima

Aaron Fhima, California attorneyAaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights. [ Attorney Bio ]

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