Many people have made the switch from handheld devices to hands-free devices after many states made using a phone while driving illegal. Thousands of auto accidents are caused a year by driver inattention, partly because of texting while driving or talking on the phone with one hand off the wheel. However, are hands-free devices any safer?
According to the National Safety Council, the answer is “no.” Distractions are a top factor in fatal car crashes, and up to 94% of all auto accidents are caused by driver error. However, despite the fact hands-free devices are supposed to be safer, they can still be distracting.
Multitasking is a myth. You can operate a vehicle and talk on the phone, but you’re not doing them exactly at the same time. When you do 2 tasks at once, your brain is toggling rapidly between the two, switching from one to the other. If you’re driving and listening to a conversation in the car, the activity in your brain that process moving images will decrease by up to 1/3. Likewise, drivers looking out the windshield can miss seeing up to 50% of what’s around them when talking on any kind of cell phone. In other studies, voice-to-text features were found to be even more distracting than just typing texts by hand.
While hands-free devices are certainly a better alternative than handheld device use on the road, the best way to avoid a distracted driving accident is to pay total attention to operating the vehicle. Keep your eyes on the road, keep your hands on the wheel, and keep your mind on driving.
If you’ve been injured in an auto collision with a negligent driver, don’t hesitate to call our skilled Reno car accident attorneys today. Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. have more than 100 years of combined legal experience to offer your case. Whether you need to seek compensation for medical bills, property damage, lost wages, or all of the above, we can help. Our lawyers understand the last thing you want to worry about is money after an accident, which is why we work on a contingency fee basis. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (775) 227-2280 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.