Hands-Free Or Voice-Activated Texting Not Safer

Meshach writes "A recent study (PDF) detailed in the Washington Post verifies that using hands-free or voice-activated texting is no safer than texting with your hands while you are driving a car. Using a handheld device to tap out a text message while driving has been banned in many states and provinces. From the article: '"One of the common comments was that they felt an inclination to look down at the screen to see if it heard them correctly, so that could be one possible explanation of why they were not looking at the roadway more frequently," Yager said. She said drivers said they felt safer when using voice-activated texting than when entering messages on a keyboard. "Perhaps it is because they view it as safer and therefore it must be, but still they have this inclination to look down at the screen," she said. "We found that their driving performance suffered equally with both methods." As has been proven in studies of cellphone conversations, Yager said drivers engaged in any form of texting were distracted by the communication effort.'"

Comments

Survey schmuervey

[Hognoxious]

She said drivers said they felt safer when using voice-activated texting than when entering messages on a keyboard.

What did cyclists, pedestrians and other drivers think?

The surviving ones, I mean.

Re:only partially agree

[Archangel Michael]

This is why I tell my kids, that driving takes 100% concentration. That while most of the time, 50-80% is usually good enough, you can't predict when the asshole in the left lane is going to swerve right three lanes because he is about to miss his exit, because he was too busy getting a BJ from his boyfriend or talking/txting/watching a video on a cell phone.

The point is, it doesn't matter what the other guy is doing, he is the danger. If you're 100% concentrating on driving you have a much better chance of avoiding the accident. AND that is worth everything.