Does “Hands-Free” Really Help Keep Drivers Safe? South Florida Accident Attorneys

Each day in the United States, over 8 people are killed and 1,161 injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

What’s the solution? Most people go with “handsfree” alternatives, but it’s not clear if they actually work.

Famous TV debunkers Adam and Jamie from “Mythbusters” conducted several tests to see if drivers could focus and perform a driving test better using hands-free versus hand-held cell phone use. First they drove real cars on a real obstacle course and the results were basically the same for both techniques. No real advantage for hands-free.

Then they moved the tests into a more scientific arena, a computerized driving simulator. The results: the same, no advantage for hands-free. Apparently any cell phone use is a distraction and counter-productive to safe driving.

Several states have enacted bans on using hand-held phones and mandate hands-free only. Other states ban certain uses of cell phones for new drivers. Florida’s bans are:

Hand-Held Ban?
No

All Cell Phone Ban?
School Bus Drivers
No

Novice Drivers
No

Text Messaging Ban?
All drivers. Secondary law.

Here’s a video about the Jamie and Adam test and results:

South Florida Accident Attorneys

The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus urges all south Florida drivers to turn their phones off. The evidence is building that any distraction, even eating or drinking in your vehicle, may cause a serious accident. We deal with victims of serious accidents, and the injuries are devastating. Please call us if you have been injured in a car accident and we will work hard to see that you get the help you need. 954-356-0006.