Hands-free or not, phones still a driving distraction

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By Shannon Roberts / For The Conversation

Do you ever use your cellphone while driving? Don’t feel too guilty about saying yes; nearly 60 percent of drivers admit to using their phone in hands-free mode while driving.

But don’t become complacent either. Using your cellphone in hands-free mode while driving is not a perfectly safe activity, despite the impression you might be getting from laws, marketing messages and the behavior of people around you.

Fatal crashes caused by driver distraction have not gone down significantly over time: Distraction caused 14 percent of fatal crashes in 2017 and 13 percent of fatal crashes in 2021. Given that these numbers are calculated based on police-reported crashes, many experts believe the actual number of crashes caused by driver distraction is much higher. For example, real-world crash data from teens indicates that 58 percent of their crashes are due to driver distraction.

I am a human factors engineer who studies how drivers interact with technology. I see a gap between what people are told and what people should do when it comes to using your cellphone behind the wheel.

https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/comment-hands-free-or-not-phones-still-a-driving-distraction/

[ret5hd]

1. my philosophy:

when i drive, i am busy. not much chit-chat, not much music. i’m driving. same as if i am operating a lathe or a saw or a mill. i’m busy…unless it’s important, leave me alone.

but i’m old…it took me a long time and a few wrecks to get there.

[love_katz]

2. Driving is already multi tasking.

Cellphone use should not be added. Driving defensively is what needs to be focused on. Using a cellphone while driving interferes with that all important task, of getting to your destination alive, uninjured, and without damage to your vehicle. Using a cellphone while driving puts other people and their property at risk of injury, death, or permanent scarring or disability. Pulling over to a safe place to use your phone is not asking too much. And, since hit and run is illegal, getting involved in even a minor fender bender will not save you either time or money.