hands free technology News

Driving Under the Distracted Influence: Smartphone Telematics for a Safer Road

Drunk driving accounts for nearly a third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States, with approximately one death occurring every hour. We have a long history with drunk driving: In 1906, New Jersey became the first state to adopt …

Massachusetts Drivers Could See Ban on Handheld Mobile Devices

Welcome to Massachusetts signs can mean more to drivers than just crossing a state line. For some, they also signal that it’s OK to pick up their cellphones, punch in a phone number and make a call. That’s because all …

Hands Free Technology While Driving Often Distracting

With three out of four drivers believing that hands-free technology is safe to use, Americans may be surprised to learn that these popular new vehicle features may actually increase mental distraction, according to new research by the AAA Foundation for …

Colorado Considers Limiting Cellphone Use in Cars

Drivers would have to use a hands-free device to use their cell phones under a bill being considered by Colorado state lawmakers. The bill would make it illegal to use a cell phone to make calls or use apps while …

Senator Wants Rules for In-Car Cell Phone Use Unless Risks Curbed

A top U.S. senator is vowing to pursue rules governing in-vehicle use of mobile phones and Internet-connected entertainment systems unless automakers and technology companies do more to reduce driver distractions. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, …

New Cellphone Law a Challenge for Illinois Drivers in 2014

For incessant multitaskers who can’t stop talking while driving, life will include some bitter medicine when the new year rolls in. Starting Jan. 1, motorists can talk and drive only if they use a hands-free device to conduct cellphone conversations. …

Research Reveals Voice-Activated Car Technologies Undermine Driver Attention

Hands-free technologies might make it easier for motorists to text, talk on the phone, or even use Facebook while they drive, but new findings from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety show dangerous mental distractions exist even when drivers keep …

West Virginia University Researchers Weigh in on Distracted Driving

Two West Virginia University researchers say laws and education efforts dealing with cell phone use while driving aren’t having much effect. Jeffrey Coben and Motao Zhu report their conclusions in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical …