With the final days of summer, many have been going out, making sure to really enjoy some family time before the school year starts back up. And while planning your outing may take a considerable amount of time — everything can come crashing to a halt as soon as you get into a car accident.
As you figure out the exact details of what happened, what the other driver was doing leading up to the crash is important. And while we tend to focus much attention on texting while driving, it’s important to note that other drivers cause accidents when they are using a hands-free device.
Hands-free doesn’t necessarily mean danger-free
You no doubt have heard advocates of hands-free dashboard devices espousing the supposed benefits of using such gadgets while driving. However, the truth is that hands-free does not mean distraction free. The following information shows just how dangerous these devices still are:
- Many people who use hands-free devices are compelled to constantly look at the screens, rather than the road in front of them.
- Any type of action other than those directly associated with driving — even having a conversation with a passenger in the car — can cause significant distraction behind the wheel.
- Even though dashboard devices are supposedly hands-free, if you have to adjust controls or otherwise fool with the device while driving, you are taking your hands off the wheel to do so.
- Reading a text, whether on a hand-held device or one that is supposedly hands-free, takes your eyes off the road, which is a serious distraction, increasing your risk for an accident.
- Your hands may be free when using a dashboard device, but your mind is still otherwise occupied.
The bottom line is that hands-free devices are still to blame for many accidents and can even cause a false sense of safety.