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Hands-free devices do not eliminate the problem of distracted driving

Most of us have been brought to believe by authorities and news reports that driving while talking on so-called “hands-free” devices is safer than driving while talking on a cell phone. However, mounting research is revealing that this isn’t the case.

If you or someone you know was hurt in an accident that involved a driver using a hands-free device to talk on their phone, you may already suspect that the other driver was distracted.

Why hands-free devices aren’t good enough for talking on the phone while driving:

  1. Inattention blindness: Drivers who use hands-free devices in studies were found to experience what is called “inattention blindness.” While drivers using hands-free devices may be looking out of the window, they aren’t necessarily seeing everything going on in the road in front of them. Studies show that the area they scan visually is much smaller than the area being scanned by a driver not talking on a hands-free device. This narrowed field of vision means that a driver is more likely to cause a wreck if they do not notice a hazard outside their view.
  2. Delayed response reaction times: Drivers using a hands-free device in studies experienced a measureable delay in their response and reaction times while talking and driving at the same time. As any driver knows, seconds matter when it comes to accident avoidance. Delayed reaction times are also experienced by drunk drivers, making driving while talking with a hands-free device as much a problem as driving while intoxicated.
  3. Problems staying in their lane: Drivers on a hands-free device had trouble staying in their own lane while talking on the phone. This goes back to the cognitive distraction drivers experience when talking on a cell phone. Because the driver’s brain is busy processing information from the call, they are less focused on tracking or staying in their own lane. When drivers drift in and out of their designated lane, they can cause side-swipe or other types of accidents.

While driving with a hands-free device may be legal in Virginia, studies show that it is not safe. If you’ve been injured in a distracted driving crash, please contact our office today to speak with one of our skilled Virginia car crash attorneys.

Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C.

112 College Place

Norfolk, VA 23510

Toll Free: (800) 690-0235

Phone: (757) 622-7740

Fax: (757) 533-9223




Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Email: info@weislaw.com
www.weislaw.com