Do you think hands – free technology solves the problem of distracted driving? Even if you are looking at the road and have both hands on the wheel, you may still be distracted and less alert to road hazards if you are using a hands – free device, according to a recent study by the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the University of Utah.
At the Law Offices of Mallon & Tranger, we provide strong representation for people injured in New Jersey car accidents caused by distracted driving. To schedule a private meeting, contact us online or call us at 732-702-0333. Your first consultation is free.
The study was commissioned by the AAA and conducted by the University of Utah’s Center for the Prevention of Distracted Driving. The study outfitted drivers with a device to measure brainwave activity while they performed simulated driving tasks with different distractions, including:
- Talking to a passenger
- Listening to the radio
- Talking on a handheld cell phone
- Talking on a hands-free cell phone
- Using text-to-speech email and texting
The study measured cognitive workload of driving on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the workload required while just driving with no distractions and 5 being the workload required while driving and simultaneously performing a complex series of math and verbal problems.
Talking on a hands – free cell phone required only a slightly lower cognitive workload than talking on a handheld cell phone, and both of these tasks required a cognitive workload twice as high as driving with no distractions. The higher the driver’s cognitive workload, the greater the risk of lower safe-driving performance.
The study also found that the highest cognitive distractions were created by in-vehicle speech-to-text “infotainment” systems.
Read more results of the hands-free safe driving study on AAA’s online fact sheet. For a free consultation to learn more about your rights after a New Jersey car accident, contact Mallon & Tranger online or call 732-702-0333.