Research: Hands-Free Law Might Not Make California Roads Safer

March 26, 2008

  • March 26, 2008 at 8:14 am
    Calif Ex Pat says:
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    Years ago I tried to drive and dictate status reports – after nearly killing myself and several others, I ‘decided’ this was not a good idea. Same problem w/ speaking on a telephone (the mind follows the conversation with the imagination) and the attention to driving suffers – studies show have a phone conversation impairs driving ability almost identically to driving w/ a blood alcohol of over .10. Everything is fine as long as nothing unexpected happens – but once it does, it takes too long to refocus and accidents happen

  • March 26, 2008 at 11:05 am
    Central Coast Agent says:
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    so do ambulance drivers, firemen, tow truck drivers, taxi drivers, etc. You’ll never fly in a plane when the pilot isn’t on the radio during critical moments in the flight. I’m sure hands free is not as safe as no cell phone at all. But the advent of Bluetooth…voice dialing… voice rec…etc. have made it a bit safer. Though you have to pick your spots and it’s not a good time to call your divorce atty. about your ex’s new demands. KISS…Keep it simple & short.

  • March 26, 2008 at 2:46 am
    Stephen Hawking says:
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    devices. When driving I take advantage of hands free cell phone, hands free lipstick, hands free tobacco products, hands free tacos, hands free coffee. I even use hands free driving gloves.

  • March 27, 2008 at 11:05 am
    Joe says:
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    Do you really think a $20 fine is going to be a deterrent??

  • March 27, 2008 at 11:17 am
    lastbat says:
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    You are very right Agent, it’s all about your focus. The same studies showed that driving drunk, talking while holding a cell phone, utilizing a hands-free device and talking to passengers all provided the same level of distraction and impairment to the driver.

    And let’s get real, it’s not about having two hands on the wheel. How many people, by show of hands, drive with your hands at 10 and 2? We all drive one-handed and have been since we passed the driving test. Having two hands on the wheel is not the problem – the problem is driving while distracted.

    I personally find my hands-free device to be a worse distraction than just using the cell phone. Since I don’t keep things in my ear all the time I have to fumble around to get the ear piece in before the call goes to voicemail. I’ve given up on answering calls in jurisdictions that require a hands-free device. I know I should give up talking on the phone while driving all-together, but I’m not quite there yet.

  • March 27, 2008 at 11:40 am
    Mark says:
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    I hate using a headset. It just doesn’t work for me. I’ll save my money I would have spent on one and pay the 20 bucks.

  • March 27, 2008 at 4:06 am
    Central Coast Agent says:
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    The cars now equipped with Bluetooth (BT)have huge advantages over most cell/headset combos.
    1) You don’t touch your phone it just has to be on…2) the voice rec/activate button is near your left thumb on the steering wheel 3) after you program the car and voice tag the numbers…you just hit the thumb button…tell it to “DIAL” then the voice tag ID, i.e., “office” “home” “emperor’s club”, etc., or just say “dial” and then “18055551212” There is no headset.. they use the car’s audio system and an overhead mike. Many require the Nav or audio system to be on. Your cell can be in your pocket/belt. It just needs to be on and paired to the car. The cell only has to be BT capable. Everything else is in the car system. It should hangup when the other party disconnects, but you might need to push a button. They’ve come a long way since the bag phone. I don’t think this is more distracting than arguing with your wife of having kids mess around in the back or switching radio or CD tracks, etc. But drivers’ experience and ability to concentrate are hard to compare. My 1st cell was a car cell built-in in 1988…not a scratch since…but I pull off if the subject gets very detailed. I won’t take notes and drive.

  • March 27, 2008 at 4:22 am
    lastbat says:
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    What you describe is what most people think about when they think about hands-free in the car – or maybe an earpiece that need only be touched to pick up a call. That’s not what a lot of us out there have, use or can afford. For the great number of people that can only use (for whatever reason) an earpiece w/mic corded to the phone these hands-free laws do nothing for their safety.

  • March 28, 2008 at 6:05 am
    Stephen Hawking says:
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    Not even a courtesy laugh for hands free
    driving gloves?

  • March 28, 2008 at 6:26 am
    lastbat says:
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    *chuckle*



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