Are Hands-Free Devices Safer When Driving?
At Walker Smith, we see our share of wrecked vehicles. Some of these wrecks are from the unfortunate events of drunk driving or bad weather. But now, many wrecks happen due to the distraction of cell phone use. And while many will advocate that using a cell phone with hands-free technology is totally safe, unfortunately hands-free is not risk-free.
In her article about distracted driving, Deborah Hersman notes that estimates show 1 in 4 crashes involve cell phone use!
Statistics Don’t Lie
The fact is there is no safe way to use a cell phone and drive. Using a cell phone while driving takes your attention away from the driving task. Drivers talking on cell phones can look through a windshield and still fail to see half of what is around them –including traffic lights, stop signs, other vehicles, and pedestrians.
Sadly, car crashes claim the lives of about 100 Americans each day, and 90% of crashes are caused by a driver, not by vehicle failure or bad weather. So with estimates showing that one in four crashes involve cell phone use, we need to think about the choices we make behind the wheel. Deaths and injuries on our roadways are completely preventable.
Many distractions exist while driving, but cell phone use is a top distraction because it is a high-risk activity that drivers engage in for long periods of time each day. While most drivers agree that using a cell phone is risky, many continue to do so.
We live in a connected society, and more than 80% of drivers consider cell phones to be addicting. But when behind the wheel, that addiction can be deadly. Be part of the solution in the fight against distracted driving. Lives depend on it.
Calls Kill is the first campaign of its kind to focus on the risks of using hands-free devices while driving, including the hands-free features of dashboard infotainment systems. Visit nsc.org/CallsKill and share our videos, fact sheets, posters, and infographics with your friends and family; get social using #CallsKill; and take the Focused Driver Challenge by pledging to drive cell free.
Make Your Pledge to Drive Cell-Free
Hands-free is not risk-free. Make your pledge to drive responsibly and without distraction. The life you save may be your own.
Walker Smith is your full-service maintenance, auto body, paint, and auto repair shop in Snellville GA. We’re the auto body shop Snellville calls first. Call us today and we’ll make your car look like new.