Talking On Your Hands-Free While Driving Isn’t Safe

Megalith

Megalith

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What do you think about this research? Have any of you actually zoned out like this while talking and driving?

“A popular misconception is that using a mobile phone while driving is safe as long as the driver uses a hands-free phone. Our research shows this is not the case. Hands-free can be equally distracting because conversations cause the driver to visually imagine what they’re talking about. This visual imagery competes for processing resources with what the driver sees in front of them on the road. “Our findings have implications for real-life mobile phone conversations. The person at the other end of the phone might ask “where did you leave the blue file?”, causing the driver to mentally search a remembered room. The driver may also simply imagine the facial expression of the person they’re talking to.
 
Okay, so pretty much anything could potentially be "distracting". Listening to the radio while you drive is probably also "distracting". The question in my mind is, how does hands-free cellphone use in a car compare to simply talking with someone who is sitting in a passenger seat?
 
GotNoRice said:
Okay, so pretty much anything could potentially be "distracting". Listening to the radio while you drive is probably also "distracting". The question in my mind is, how does hands-free cellphone use in a car compare to simply talking with someone who is sitting in a passenger seat?
Click to expand...

This kind of good logic is what is not permitted in these kinds of studies. You know people will jump on the idea of making phones in cars illegal but try to touch their radios, cigarettes, food/beverage, conversation with passenger, and it will get ugly lol.

I find billboards very distracting, where they flicker or have a level of brightness that distracts from car headlights. Also I do think sirens, car horns, or squealing tires shouldn't be on the radio haha.
 
GotNoRice said:
Okay, so pretty much anything could potentially be "distracting". Listening to the radio while you drive is probably also "distracting". The question in my mind is, how does hands-free cellphone use in a car compare to simply talking with someone who is sitting in a passenger seat?
Click to expand...
Music not so much but holding a discussion is distracting it's been known for a long time. Because a conversation actually holds your attention more than driving. Hands free just frees up your hands to be slightly more prepared for when your distracted driving goes poorly and you have to take measures.
 
Semantics said:
Music not so much but holding a discussion is distracting it's been known for a long time. Because a conversation actually holds your attention more than driving.
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Do you believe that this form of distracted driving represents a problem that should be fixed?
 
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I'm just frustrated that I have a 128gb phone, with a great EQ, a line out cable preamp which patches into my very wonderful car stereo...

And I can't use it to change songs, even at red lights, because cops in Canada hand out tickets for even looking at a light source, of any variety, that looks like a phone.

I had a tablet as my car console for awhile, and a 3g enabled car PC s well, both are unused and uninstalled.

Yet there are a million sources of sanctioned distraction.
 
I got so much OCD when driving that I typically do not even listen to radio/music (only very seldomly). :p So guess I won't be the first person stopped for being distracted by other stuff when driving. I only drive very short city routes 90% of the time though.
 
I rode bikes for years, big and small.
Its ingrained that the roads are unsafe and I am very alert when driving a car.
But twice I have pulled out on a car while a friend has been talking to me.
Both times I was lucky to not cause an accident.

I dont know how many people get this distracted by talking so I cant make the claim that in car phones should be banned.
But there is a case to consider.
 
Won't be long before they make you have a sensor placed in your car or have your insurance revoked. This sensor will detect if you're doing any kind of talking and fine you.
 
Megalith said:
What do you think about this research? Have any of you actually zoned out like this while talking and driving?

“A popular misconception is that using a mobile phone while driving is safe as long as the driver uses a hands-free phone. Our research shows this is not the case. Hands-free can be equally distracting because conversations cause the driver to visually imagine what they’re talking about. This visual imagery competes for processing resources with what the driver sees in front of them on the road. “Our findings have implications for real-life mobile phone conversations. The person at the other end of the phone might ask “where did you leave the blue file?”, causing the driver to mentally search a remembered room. The driver may also simply imagine the facial expression of the person they’re talking to.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's all true. When I get a call on my hands free I am very well aware that it's taking my attention away from driving and as such I am slow to respond to the caller as I concentrate on driving and then quickly interject replies back to them when it's "safe" to do so. It was established years ago that the act of conversation was as distracting as having the phone up to your ear, as well, it's the conversation you're focused on, not the device. It's just easier to make and receive calls hands free, not have the actual conversation.

And as for the reply above, it doesn't compare at all to someone being next to you while talking. 100% different. Just having the person there makes it so much different. I can babble on about very technical things and still drive normally if the person is with me. But on a phone call, I am fully aware that I can only give basic replies at a slower rate as the driving is actually distracting from the conversation.

So yea, talking hands free is totally not safe at all. I'm just glad I am aware of it and set the priorities right. I choose to have the conversation suffer. Mind, this is at regular driving speeds. With the car stopped or bumper traffic it's better.
 
Distracted driving is distracted driving, regardless of the source.

That being said i need my tunes. Music helps keep my mind from wandering. My most distracted driving comes from NOT having some kind of background noise.
 
Arguing with your spouse and children in the car is now illegal! Every family I know would be fined into bankruptcy! LOL
 
See I know that conversations and all distract, but I actually find talking with people in the car rather than over the phone are more distracting as I like to engage with people, like with hand gestures and looking them in the eyes when I talk. With a phone conversation I will occasionally gesture still, but as I know there is no looking them in the eyes I don't even try looking away from where my eyes should be which is on the road. Of course I think I'm in the multitasking minority where I really sort of need multiple things going on for my brain to feel comfortable.
 
Arcygenical said:
I'm just frustrated that I have a 128gb phone, with a great EQ, a line out cable preamp which patches into my very wonderful car stereo...

And I can't use it to change songs, even at red lights, because cops in Canada hand out tickets for even looking at a light source, of any variety, that looks like a phone.

I had a tablet as my car console for awhile, and a 3g enabled car PC s well, both are unused and uninstalled.

Yet there are a million sources of sanctioned distraction.
Click to expand...
Hello Canadian, depending on your car stereo you may be able to do a digital connection between your phone and the stereo. i do this in my '16 F150 but not with a phone since the head unit (Sync 3) does not support MTP, but it does do mass storage so I use a Fiio X5 2nd gen with 2 200GB microSD cards in it plugged into the USB and it reads FLAC just fine and dandy from that, and you can use steering wheel controls or the stock screen on head unit to control it and I don't think your cops will pitch a fit over that.
 
GotNoRice said:
Okay, so pretty much anything could potentially be "distracting". Listening to the radio while you drive is probably also "distracting". The question in my mind is, how does hands-free cellphone use in a car compare to simply talking with someone who is sitting in a passenger seat?
Click to expand...

There is no difference, but not enough voters at the moment will get behind the idea of pulling over and ticketing motorists for talking to their passengers for distracted driving. Hire enough lobbyists and PR firms and conduct enough polls and that can easily change. They can even outlaw car audio systems and vehicles with more than one seat in the name of safer driving, especially if they claim it's "for the children."
 
Semantics said:
Music not so much but holding a discussion is distracting it's been known for a long time. Because a conversation actually holds your attention more than driving. Hands free just frees up your hands to be slightly more prepared for when your distracted driving goes poorly and you have to take measures.
Click to expand...

Actually music does affect driving, you need something soothing and with low tempo and low volume for the least effect, the higher the tempo and the volume the more reckless the driving becomes.

Fast music linked to car crashes
 
Taking a conference call on the way home instead of staying at the office for an extra hour can potentially be distracting. Particularly when they are presenting material and you have to imagine what it looks like.
 
As a private pilot who nearly went commercial (passed all theory and did a lot of the practical), this is quite funny.

We have to land planes while listening to two radios at once and talking to a tower. Sometimes two!

There is no special training for that, only FRTO (flight radio telephony operator) cert. It becomes second nature after training and becoming familiar. I guess your average Joe also has lot of training... but they suck usually. I find smartphones without buttons these days are much harder to operate in this fashion, the old flip/button phones are easier... but less crap going on.
 
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Not quite the same.
The messages you hear are information and about what you are doing.
Any discussion is on topic of what you are doing.
Its rare you need to make a split decision and when you do, there is little to distract you.
 
I don't visualize anyone while using hands free. Of course my driving conversations tend to be brutally functional because I'm frikin DRIVING.
 
Cop: You know why I pulled you over, son?
Driver: I'm not sure officer.
Cop: Distracted driving.
Driver: Distracted driving? What do you mean?
Cop: I saw your passenger moving his mouth, such noise can easily distract and cause a 15 car pile up.

Zip it or Ticket!
 
The "logic" that something else is more distracting, so that makes the distracted action that I partake in ok ..... is juvenile at best.
 
Great, that excuse I will use next time I don't care for the discussion from the passenger's seat.
 
Everything is relative. Different people react to the same things differently. Some people (fireman, ambulance driver, police officer, tow truck driver etc.) can operate a cell phone or 2-way pretty responsibly. Some people can't look at the speedometer without swerving. I think the real issue is that people don't know their limitations.
Not everyone can talk on a 2-way radio while doing 135 mph chasing a suspect. That is why people are screened. Give us the option to have a 'license' to operate the radio or cell phone or tablet or HAM radio etc. in our vehicles. If we do something stupid then give us a ticket and revoke privilege.
 
i drive a lot and see people from reading the paper to eating a bowl of cereal (yes hand on bowl.. other using spoon and knee holding steering wheel so a blowout and he is going to loose control).

better yet.. you dont have to agree but this weekend I was at a red light so i picked up my phone as it looked like it had a crack on the screen. guy on motorcycle turns and passes me yelling..> GET OFF YOUR PHONE....

i felt like yelling a few things but thought.. well he is partially right BUT IM NOT MOVING!!!!

so what if my hand is rubbing my junk or if im tuning the radio or eating veal parm dinner... why do people think with a phone in your hand it is bad? LIGHT IS RED!!! GIMME A BREAK!!!!!


p.s. thx for the vent... its been eating me up... hah
 
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