Georgia drivers do everything possible to keep safe on the road. Unfortunately, some dangers are not easy to avoid. For example, it is not always an option to leave hand-held devices out of the car. Some people need them for their jobs. Others use GPS navigation systems on their phones.
Hands-free tech markets itself as a way to cut those distractions down. But just how safe are these devices?
Reduction of physical and visual distractions
The National Safety Council takes a look at hands-free tech and their impact on driver safety. They do impact certain areas of distracted driving. They reduce physical and visual distraction. This is because you can give oral commands and receive audio output. This allows you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. You no longer have to look at the map or touch the device to operate it.
Combating cognitive distractions?
But hands-free tech does not address cognitive distractions. In fact, it cannot address them. The umbrella of cognitive distractions is a large one. It includes anything that takes your mind off of driving. By its nature, using a handheld device takes your mind off of the road. You focus on reading a map. You follow directions or receive instructions instead of paying attention to the road. Through this enabling, hands-free tech may even contribute to cognitive distractions.
It is important to understand that hands-free tech does help with some distractions. But this does not mean it helps with everything. Do not use hands-free tech with the false assumption that it will keep you safe. This overconfidence may only lead to more crashes.
