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

only partially agree

[noh8rz10]

In response to a big push by LEO in CA on the cell phone laws, I recently got one of those dorky 90's dash mounts for my phone. it's great because the phone is pretty much in my line of sight, but it's still distracting to activate the voice sms dictation. So I would say it's MUCH better than doing it by hand, but still not as good as not doing it!

Re:only partially agree

[AuMatar]

If you have an android phone, I wrote an app, TextSoundly, that automatically detects when you're moving at driving speeds and turns on voice texting/response.

Re:only partially agree

[TheCarp]

However, the problem is that this study is only looking at reaction time, which is pretty limited of a measure. This is especially true since its also been found that cell phone accidents are likely not entirely caused by reaction time issues.

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/08/why-cell-phone-bans-dont-work.html

So, bad drivers, the ones who get in accidents don't just use cell phones, they drive more wrecklessly while using them. They choose to use them at particularly dangerous times. They do, exactly what most people choose not to do.

The problem, quite simply, is not cell phones. They are just the device people have chosen to measure. The problem is not cell phones because, the problem is not reaction time. The problem is judgement and the problem is risk assesment within certain individuals.

Re:only partially agree

[SternisheFan]

"Yager said drivers engaged in any form of texting were distracted by the communication effort.'"

The brain can multitask 4 things at any one time, driving a car uses most of the brain's abilities. You throw another distraction into the mix and you're basically 'driving impaired'. I've been a passenger while the driver was engrossed in a hands free conversation staring at his phone on the seat while making his point. I say, "brake... brake.... BRAKE!!!" until he looks up and avoids slamming into the slowed car in front of us.

Everyone thinks they are the best driver in the world until they aren't. Safely pull over somewhere before you use any electronic gizmo, reach for the item you dropped. Graveyards are filled with too many who died for dumb actions while driving.

Re:only partially agree

[ackthpt]

In response to a big push by LEO in CA on the cell phone laws, I recently got one of those dorky 90's dash mounts for my phone. it's great because the phone is pretty much in my line of sight, but it's still distracting to activate the voice sms dictation. So I would say it's MUCH better than doing it by hand, but still not as good as not doing it!

Yep, driving while slightly less distracted is still driving distracted. All it takes is one of those morons who changes lanes without a signal or believes passing with no room to spare will work because you'll see them and you're sunk. Doesn't matter who is right or wrong, if you could have avoided it you could have avoided having your car towed off and dealing with the logistics of being without it. Assuming you survive.

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.

Re:only partially agree

[ColdWetDog]

Singing ads.

Be the first, start a trend!

Eyes on the road!

[MasterOfGoingFaster]

If only there was a way to communicate in real time, via 2 way voice...

Someday.... someday...

Re:Has more to do with focus than the behavior.

[s1d3track3D]

unless your Mr. Bean

Re:Here's a thought...

[mcrbids]

Studies have shown that bluetooth headsets make no difference when it comes to preventing accidents. The cause is clear, just sit in a car during an in-car conversation and simulate a near accident by stomping the breaks hard without provocation.

All talking stops instantly and stays stopped during the entire perceived danger. Granted, you may get bruises for freaking everybody out, but you'll understand the point:

Conversations in a car will never the be the same as a conversation happening with somebody outside the car. People driving with you inadvertently "help" you in a crisis by pausing in their communications during a crisis situation.

Interestingly, there's a small percentage of people (around 15% or so) for whom talking on a cell phone has no measurable effect on their driving. These are people with the ability to interrupt the conversation flow, saying "just a minute" or simply ignoring the conversation altogether during a crisis.

If you want training in how to do this, I'd recommend getting a pilot's license. While getting even a basic private license, the number of things you are expected to do precisely, concurrently during takeoff/landing boggles the mind to a newbie coming from a car. You are commonly expected to be manipulating radio controls, rudder controls, Elevator controls, and Aileron controls concurrently while watching a half dozen instruments and chatting with some guy a mile away in a tower.

You figure out quick how to ignore him when something unexpected happens!

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.

phone + vehicle = no

[YrWrstNtmr]

Voice, bluetooth, text, handheld, hendsfree, VoiceToText.....screw you.

As someone who is waiting on a (too small) settlement check for my destroyed vehicle, all I can say is put the fucking phone away and drive the damn car.
Texting teen blows a red light at 60, and I'm lucky the only thing destroyed was my vehicle. I am still vertical and breathing.

Hanging upside down from the seatbelt, covered in broken glass was not the way I wanted to spend the afternoon.

Re:Read back

[Dcnjoe60]

That depends. Are you listening to it to verify that your hands free got it correct? If so, then your brain is occupied doing that instead of driving and it is not any safer than looking at the screen. It isn't the fact that your eyes left the road for a split second, it's that your brain quit the driving task and shifted to the texting task and has to shift back to driving again, meanwhile, your car has traveled a football field or so down the highway without you realizing it.