It seems that hands-free devices may not be the solution to our distracted driving they were once thought to be. A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows some startling — and frightening — numbers about the risks of using a hands-free device (such as a smart phone or tablet) while driving. While texting and driving has been getting a lot of bad press lately (and for good reason! The number of serious injuries and fatalities associated with texting while driving are astounding), it appears that even using your device in “hands-free” mode has its downsides. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident in Woodland Hills that was the result of a driver’s inattention or distracted driving, contact an experienced accident attorney to discuss your rights.
Hands-free devices cause distraction
According to the recent AAA report, drivers can be distracted for up to 27 seconds after doing seemingly harmless activities like changing music or dialing a phone number, even when using hands-free technologies or an automobile’s “infotainment” system. For many, including the personal injury attorneys who see the wreckage caused by distracted driving on a daily basis, the results raise new and unexpected concerns about the use of phones and vehicle information systems while driving. What type of concerns? Well, a few include the fear that motorists could miss stop signs, causing serious pedestrian accidents and other vehicles while the driver’s mind is readjusting to the task of driving.
One of the studies showed that it is also highly distracting to use hands-free voice commands to dial phone numbers, call contacts, and even send texts with the help of various smartphone or car-installed personal assistants.
Why are these advanced technological solutions ‘distracting’? Research found that they can be very error prone (just think about how many times you have to repeat yourself in order to dial the correct “John” not “Tom”) and very frustrating to use. The research also found that, contrary to popular belief, practice with voice-recognition systems doesn’t eliminate distraction. What’s more, the studies go on to show that older drivers, who also happen to be in the demographic most most likely to buy autos with infotainment systems, are much more distracted than younger drivers when giving voice commands.
Accidents caused by hands-free devices
Sadly, far too many people are dying or suffering catastrophic injuries because of distraction on the roadway. While tempting, it is better not to use them when driving.
To discuss how you can recover financial compensation after being injured in an auto accident caused by a distracted or careless driver, contact experienced Woodland Hills personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg today.
