In light of the ever increasing amount of road collisions caused by drivers being distracted by SatNavs and mobile phones, we ask the question:
Should all mobile devices be banned from use while driving?
At present, you are not breaking the law if you use a hands free kit to talk on the phone whilst driving.
However, an increasing body of research is indicating that using a hands free kit such as a phone cradle, could be just as dangerous as using your mobile phone to text while driving.
The level of distraction that using a mobile unit causes, is at the centre of the issue
This is especially true when following an onscreen SatNav, but is also true if you are having a hands free conversation. Research has shown that you visualise the person you are speaking to while you are on the phone. Doing so takes even more of your attention away from the road.
An increasing amount of drivers can be seen wearing headphones, which can also make them unaware of the ambiant warning sounds, in the event of emergencies.
Will hands free kits be the latest tech banned behind the wheel?
It's is not only hand free kits which have been found to be distracting motorists, other High-tech distractions include, SatNavs, streaming video on Mobiles, and also iPads can often be seen, attached to windscreens.
The safety of using high-tech dashboards has been called into question too, following research carried out by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
The research looked at how long it takes drivers to perform certain activities on their high-tech dashboard. It produced plenty of interesting data, including the fact that it takes around 40 seconds to program an in-built sat-nav, which is a long time for a driver’s attention to be taken away from the road ahead.
Other high-tech dashboard features that were tested were sending a text message and searching for something on the internet, both of which caused a high level of distraction. Even tuning the radio or making a phone call caused a moderate distraction.
When a driver takes their eyes off of the road for just two seconds, they double their chance of crashing their vehicle. Distractions are partly to blame for 11% of all fatal crashes
Becoming an all to familiar sight -See the video below from last night:
The AAA is pushing for auto manufacturers to start creating systems that don’t distract drivers any more than tuning a radio or listening to an audiobook does. One solution they have proposed is to lock certain high-tech dashboard features when the car is in motion, to prevent the driver from being tempted to use them.
The value of education
Educating drivers about the dangers of using technology at the wheel would certainly help. Perfectly legal technology can cause sufficient distraction to bring about a fatal crash, yet many drivers assume that because the technology is legal, it isn’t dangerous.
It can be easy to feel in control despite your focus being elsewhere, even just for a few seconds. Breaking down the assumption that if tech is built into the car it is perfectly safe to use while driving is essential for improving the safety of our roads, particularly as vehicles continue to include more and more high-tech systems.
As research continues, it could well be that we see the use of hands free kits join the use of mobile phones in terms of what is banned behind the wheel. Doing so would certainly help to prevent accidents and make the UK’s roads safer.
• Do you use a hands free kit while driving?
• Do you have a Taxi App on your phone?
• Do you feel particularly distracted when using?
Leave a comment below to share your views.
from Taxi Leaks http://ift.tt/2APG2SI
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment
TO BOOK HEATHROW TAXIS CALL 01908 263263