Do you believe that talking on the phone while driving even if you have a head set is still dangerous?

Tom-SJ

There are many behaviors that are risky while driving. The level of risk varies with the behavior.

When auto radios first became available in the 1940's, many people thought they would be too distracting for drivers. (Believe it or not, at least one company actually installed a specially-dampened record player inside a car's glove box - if that is not distracting, I can't think of anything else.)

Research has shown that cellphone conversations can be as distracting to a driver as a one who has had a couple of drinks. A hands free cellphone eliminates the dialing problem so the risk is reduced, but a driver engaged in a serious conversation has some of his or her brain disengaged from the driving activity - so the risk is not completely zero.

There are many other dangerous practices that should be discussed in the debate of 'good' driving', such as eating or drinking (non-alcohol of course); reading a map/newspaper/book; personal grooming (shaving, brushing one's hair; applying makeup); text messaging; trying to reach an object on the passenger side seat or floor or back seat; watching a DVD movie -- just to name a few.

The best practice is devote 100% of your attention to driving and pull over and stop to do anything else.

I race cars

go to your local drivers license facility and take a road test and talk on the phone either on head set or wireless see if they fail you...

fire4511

Actually I do not see the danger in it, any more than there is danger in talking to a passenger. If you are talking to someone who is in the vehicle, you have more of a tendency To look at the person and away from the road, than you would while talking on the phone.

Some people can walk and chew gum at the same time, some can't. The idea of a prohibition on the use of cell phone use in a vehicle punishes those who can do it safely. I can talk and drive safely. I have over a million miles safely driven! I

What are we going to ban next? Listening to the radio? Talking to passengers?

Yep

Your probably not paying attention. But at least your eyes are on the road. I guess it can be an improvement.

toosexyformycar

It all depends what kind of driver you are,myself I believe I am a very good driver,I am always aware of what is around me and always assume what other drivers may do which has saved me many accidents b4.I use a head set and I am very careful when I am dialing someone.It is still dangerous simply because people cannot multitask safely,of course this is only my opinion.

dano

Yes you are not giving 100% of your attention to driving, however it is still much safer than talking to a passenger who is in your car as you will divert your eyes to look at them in addition to talking.

KirksWorld

Anything that distracts you from concentrating could arguably be considered "dangerous". But at least in your scenario, both hands are available for the controls.

In the instance where one compares this to talking with riders, if you have riders, potentially there are additional sets of eyes who might alert you to a problem, something a caller can't do.

dfische7

doing anything in the car other then paying attention to your driving can be considered dangerous, especially if you are unable to multitask. Also some people are more capable on roads that they use everyday and the same route, but anything new you should pay attention. Just because you are not holding the phone and talking doesn't make it not dangerous. Children in the back seat cause accidents, the radio cause accidents, even a conversation with someone in the front seat can distract you. I think it is safer then holding the cell phone because you have your hands free, but you should be able to answer and hang up with out using your hands, using blue tooth in the car. Bluetooth only comes in expensive cars though. So if you are in a new area I suggest you pay attention!

Pantherempress

headset is better and safer then a cell phone.

williams

you have the reason, dude. but still, it's much better than not using headset. i guess talking on the phone using headset when driving is still fine, it;s just like talking to people in your car while driving, unles you try to type message, that is dangerous.

Bud's Girl

Yes. You are still giving only 50% of your attention to the road and 50% to who you're talking to. Not a good idea at all. Drivers not only have to be offensive in their driving, but defensive too. And you're not gonna have all of your reflexes in case you have to stop fast.

Terri L

Never use a cell phone with or without a head set. Some people cant drive even without a cell phone and surely can not with one . Would you like to be next to or behind a person TEXT messaging their friend during rush hour traffic. Trust me its not a fun experience

sunshine_today

yes, I think people get distracted. Anytime someone is driving aggressively or too slow or they can't quite turn the corner, I look and sure enough they are on the phone. It's not like eating popcorn while watching a movie, people need to pay attention when they drive or they could kill someone or cause an accident with their self-absorbed stupidity.

Devmeister

was watching a TV show talking about Using a cellphone while driving- on a closed course,a UK Police Driving Instructor was asked to drive a slalom course around road traffic cones as fast as possible..He did it just fine...Then the Show presenter was sitting in the passenger seat,and asked the instructor to run the course again,this time doing a simple counting exercise aloud while he did so..Simple,that is,unless You were concentrating on driving....the Instructor failed the test-he couldn't maintain concentration,and went off course,hitting a few of the cones,and missed his gaps..that showed how having Your mind on something else won't help Your driving,let alone the additional distraction of holding a phone to Your ear (You know who You are!!),dialling,or even trying to read text messages...

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