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Maybe not. Although many automakers tout their cellphone integration systems as a safer way to drive, a new study says that even the most advanced systems create a different kind of risk by demanding too much of the driver’s attention.
The dangers of using a voice-activated cellphone while driving go beyond simply making a call. Integrated systems allow drivers to vocally dictate a text, send an e-mail, and update their social media pages. Electronics consultants believe that over half of all new cars will offer some type of integrate voice recognition by 2019.
David Strayer, a neuroscientist at the University of Utah, conducted a study comparing the impact on drivers during different activities, such as listening to the radio, talking on a hand-held phone, or using a hands-free device. Subjects were studied using driver simulations and in vehicles equipped with tools to measure their performances, including eye-scanning technology that could determine where the driver’s attention was focused.
The researchers found that vehicle-integrated phone systems are definitely a distraction—not to the driver’s eyes, but to his brain. While giving commands to the voice-only system, the driver’s reaction times and ability to process objects and changes in the roadway were significantly impaired.
Although all activities required some degree of distraction, the researchers found that the most dangerous actions involved speech-to-text technology. Dictating a text message caused a higher level of distraction than any of the other activities tested, and was likelier to cause hazardous mistakes—such as neglecting to scan a crosswalk for pedestrians.
While these systems may keep you hands-free, they can’t guarantee that you won’t be involved in an accident. If someone you know was struck by a distracted driver, New Jersey car accident lawyer Manfred F. Ricciardelli can help. Call us today at 877-360-0183 for your FREE consultation.