The research showed that the level of distraction from hands-free and handheld texting/e-mailing was remarkably similar, something that has concerned legislators, automakers, technology companies, and safety experts alike, since hands-free technology has been touted for the past several years as being a much safer alternative to using hand-held devices while driving. The level of distraction for other tasks, like having a conversation with a passenger, listening to music, or listening to audiobooks was much lower than those that involved a handheld or hands-free device.
In fact, the study shows that perhaps the most distracting thing drivers can do behind the wheel is to use hands-free technology to compose texts and emails, since concentration on that task pulls vital brain resources away from the task at hand – driving – and can even lead to something called “inattention blindness” where drivers fail to notice traffic conditions around them and have car accidents as a result.
This study has given AAA spokeswoman Yolanda Cade pause to talk about a related issue that some people have not connected, the trend of integrated “info-tainment” systems in new vehicles. An estimated 62 million vehicles will have such systems by 2018, and overdependence on them could lead to a new distracted driving crisis. As automakers are quick to point out, though, the type of task that a driver is trying to perform behind the wheel is key: instructing the car to turn on the headlights will be much less distracting than trying to compose a multi-line email while still focusing on the roadway.
Source: Fox 31 (mysouthwestga.com): “Hands-free texting still dangerous while driving,” Joan Lowy, June 12, 2013.
