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Cell Phones and the Dangers of Distracted Driving

 


             It stands to reason that hands-free talking while driving is much safer than handheld talking while driving. This supplement adds the benefit of not having to fumble for a cell phone, push multiple buttons, find the contact you are looking for, and dial that person's number. With a voice command phone mounted on the dashboard, you can, "just press one button and then give a voice prompt," says Reade Barber, a Rogers Wireless employee, in an interview with Canwest News Service. Rogers and other service providers are actually members of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, which campaigns to create "safe-driving education programs." Rogers wireless itself has even "made available discounted hands-free Bluetooth devices to all its 30,000 employees.".
             In addition to not having to take your eyes off the road, hands-free allows you to keep both of your hands on the steering wheel as well. This means that car control is not debilitated, and maneuverability is improved over using a handheld device. Both of these benefits also improve response time, which could mean the difference between life and death. So, hands-free mobile phone devices are a good solution to the issue of cell phone-distracted driving, right?.
             To put it bluntly, no, hands-free devices are not a solution to cell phone-distracted driving. Why? Because they are still a massive distraction. Despite the benefits of a hands-free device, such as being able to keep eyes on the road and hands on the driving controls, the malignant effects of speaking on a cell phone, by any method, while driving favor not using one at all. .
             In the Los Angeles Times article, "Hands-Free Cellphone use while Driving won't Make the Roads Safer, Studies Show. Why? Brain Overload," Melissa Healy says, "Despite a push by technology companies to portray hands-free mobile phone devices as safe for drivers the type of phone or mobile device and even the type of conversation had while driving is statistically irrelevant.


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