The latest study undertaken by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in partnership with the University of Utah brings some unfortunate news for drivers who use hands-free devices. While these devices seem to offer a safe solution to cell phone use by allowing motorists to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road ahead, the study showed that users of hands-free devices are far more distracted than they realize.
This study examined both in-vehicle information systems and voice activated assistants on cell phones. Drivers were tasked with using the voice commands to make calls, dictate text messages and perform other activities like requesting a radio station while driving. Participants were monitored for distraction and cognitive difficulty.
The study discovered that distraction was moderate to very high for all the voice activated systems that were tested, including 10 in-car systems and three phone-based ones. Complex systems required more attention and led to higher levels of distraction, as did ones that were poorly designed hands-free devices.
The most surprising finding was that drivers showed continued impairment for up to 27 seconds following the use of these systems. If you use these voice-activated systems in your car, think twice about whether it is worth risking driving while distracted.
Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of car accidents in recent years. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. The attorneys at Wilson Law, P.A. have been fighting for the rights of car accident victims in the Raleigh area since 2000, and we will stand by your side every step of the way to help you hold the negligent driver accountable for your injuries.
Please contact Wilson Law, P.A. using the form on this page or call 919-890-0180 today to schedule a free car accident consultation. We serve clients throughout North Carolina, including Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.