|
Introduction
There are many things that can cause distractions behind the wheel. For example, we might see the driver next to us applying make-up, reading a magazine, eating breakfast, or even getting dressed. Drivers need to be alert at all times, since there are many aspects of driving. With all of those aspects, any amount of distraction can lead to disastrous consequences. Most people today own a cell phone and can not imagine life without it. Cell phones also help us in case of emergency. If anything were to happen to the car, it would be easy to call AAA or other road side assistants for aid. Since cellular devices are helpful, it is common for people to feel the need to use it while driving. However, driving and using a cell phone, whether calling someone or texting, can cause a driver to be occupied with responding to the person they are on the phone with, rather than putting all of their focus on the road. One study by University of Utah researchers David Strayer, Frank Drews, and Dennis Crouch revealed that people who use cell phones are more likely to get in an accident than people driving with the legal limit of alcohol in their system, which is known to be .08 (387).The hands-free headset was thought to minimize the distraction of using a cell phone. However, the headset still causes a major distraction and, in some ways, distracts drivers even more. Although cell phones are needed for emergency purposes such as road side assistance, they should not be used when driving regardless of whether the driver has a hands-free headset or not. The usage of a hands-free headset while driving is still lethal even when compared to the use of a regular cell phone while driving and therefore should not be used on the road. Back to Top |
| Headsets Still Distract For the most part, hands-free headsets give drivers the freedom to put both hands on the wheel, but still doesn't keep the driver from being distracted. Simply driving down the freeway looking at scenery can cause serious accidents. So if a diversion that minor can cause a fatal accident, then a distraction like talking on the phone regardless of whether the driver has one or two hands on the steering wheel is still extremely dangerous. Even though the device is called a hands-free headset, it requires a short amount of time in which you have to remove your hand from the wheel in order to answer the call. The distraction is not, however, releasing the steering wheel; it is the voice coming out of the speaker. Back to Top |
Chatty Passenger vs. Cell Phone CallEven a chatty passenger is not as distracting as talking on the phone. As David Strayer states, “The difference between a cell phone conversation and passenger conversation is due to the fact that the passenger is in the vehicle and knows what the traffic conditions are like, and they help the driver by reminding them of where to take an exit and pointing out hazards” (“Drivers Distracted"). Besides, the passenger can see the road conditions and determine whether it would be too dangerous to distract the driver or not. Furthermore, according to another study by David Strayer and Frank Drews about the difference between driving and talking on the phone versus driving and talking to a passenger showed that the majority of drivers (88%) who were conversing with the passenger successfully completed the task of navigating to the rest area, whereas 50% of the drivers talking on a cell phone failed to navigate to the rest area (130). In other words, the passenger is aware of the surroundings and were able to warn the driver of upcoming exits while drivers who are on the phone were distracted by the conversation rather than their surroundings. Driving requires a great amount of concentration. Trying to engage in a conversation shifts the focus needed for the road to the person on the other end of the phone. Even a hands-free headset does not eliminate this lack of focus.Back to Top |
|
Furthermore, the headset itself can lead to
devastating consequences. Its instability is a hazard. I noticed that
it never stays on for a long period of time; it could fall off at any
moment.Whether it is a wireless or wired headset, the device attaches to
your ear and is very quick to fall right off. If the headset falls while driving, the
driver’s attention is almost instantly shifted from the road to putting
the headset back into place, allowing a collision to happen. Also, if
the headset is attached to the driver's ear at the time a call is received then
the ringtone will shock the driver and force the driver to instantly take his
hand off the wheel to try to find a way to answer the call regardless of what
situation the driver may be in. There are many interruptions that
could be caused by the headset itself. Those disruptions have the potential to
cause an accident that could possibly end a life and therefore should not be
allowed on the road. Back to Top |
| Wired vs Wireless Headsets Even though both wireless and wired headsets are unstable, is one better than the other? With a wired headset there are some restrictions. The headset has a wire connecting the phone to the headset which gives the user a restricted amount of space to be able to move the phone away from the headset before it falls out of your ear or unplugs itself. Since the wire is not too long the cell phone must be fairly close to you while you wear the headset. Any amount of movement has the potential to move the headset out of your ear. When using the wired headset, it is important to stay fairly still, especially when driving. As most know, it is extremely difficult to stay completely still when driving. Then came the wireless headset, also known as a Bluetooth headset, which got rid of the annoying wire. Even though there is no wire, the headset still manages to fall off the ear of it's user fairly easily. The device, though built to stay on your ear longer than the original wired headset, still is not as stable as needed. The wireless part of the device is used to place your phone in the cup holder without worrying if the wire is long enough to reach. It also gives the driver more freedom to move slightly. The headset is still unstable and sudden jerk movements tend to cause the headset to fall off the user's ear. Both the wired and wireless headsets have the ablility to help the driver use two hands on the steering wheel but still both versions of the hands-free headset are unstable. They tend to fall off which causes a major distraction and because of this both forms of the headsets shouldn't be used on the road. Back to Top |
| The Sound of a Ringtone In addition, the sound that the phone gives off when a call or text is received has the potential to scare the driver which shifts all the focus on the road to the sound coming from the headset. Since the headset is connected to the phone, if the phone rings the sound will not only come out of the cell phone but the headset itself as well. From personal experience I have learned that when your cell phone goes off when you least expect it, you completely forget what you are doing and try to answer the call as fast as you can. This is a very dangerous reaction when driving because it takes your focus away from where it should be and shifts it to your phone. If the headset is placed on your ear at the time the ringtone goes off, since it is closer to your ear, it will also be louder and has the potential to startle the driver even more. Back to Top |
|
Overall, distractions while driving are
dangerous. No matter how minor or how major they are, they can still
lead to a horrible accident. Hands-free headsets, though giving the
driver the ability to use both hands while steering are still dangerous
distractions. Many states have banned the use of cell phones without a
Bluetooth headset, even though it really does not lower the risk of
accidents. It is hard enough for people to concentrate especially when
driving, and when you add a cell phone you are adding a lethal
distraction. The usage of cell phones with or without Bluetooth
while driving should be banned since it does not minimize the risk of an accident. Drivers
should not use their cell phones while driving even if they have a
hands-free headset. Drivers should turn off their cell phones while
driving in order to eliminate any risk of distraction from the phone.If
we continue to drive while talking on our cell phones with or without
headsets, the statistics will only get worse. Back to Top |
