Community Chat

[Irshgrl31201]

On 2/6/2015 happy housewife said: When we are in the car our phones automatically come through the car's onstar. So it is totally hands free and no different than having a conversation with someone in the car.

Actually it is different and there have been several studies on this matter. Driving hands free is just as bad as driving and holding the phone. When you have a passenger in the car that you are talking to, at least they can help observe road conditions which someone on that phone cannot.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/16/cellphones.driving.safety/

[Lucibee]

I agree with you Irishgirl. I need to focus completely whin I drive. I sometimes don't even like talking to a passenger depending on conditions unless it's to help me.

[Kalli]

On 2/6/2015 lizzief said: I scared myself the other day and learned an important lesson!! In the time it took me to look down to change my a/c setting, I missed a turnoff where I had the option to get on the interstate - which is what I wanted - or not. So I took the long way home! I don't generally drive distracted, be it cellphone or something else, but that experience taught me it only takes a split second for something to happen. I've been driving for over 40 years, nothing like that has ever happened to me before, I learned my lesson!

lizzief, I used to be able to change a/c, radio, heat, etc all without taking my eyes off the road because older cars had buttons that I could feel. In the last 10 years or so, that's changed. Everything seems to be recessed into the dash and you can't tell where your fingers are without looking at the dash which means you're looking away from the road, even if it's only for a split second.

If you have a newer car, that could be the explanation.

[hckynut]

lizzief, Your post pretty much made the point I was trying to get across. Focus on driving needs to be a hundred percent and if it isn't some pay the ultimate price and unfortunately some of them are just driving minding their own business. Driving any motor vehicle on public roads has more to do with the focus of the mind then the activity of the hands.As was mentioned in another thread, excuse me, another post in the same thread, I don't even like to talk with somebody inside the vehicle I am driving. Until more drivers realize the task has more to do with the mind then with the hands, I see nothing getting any better concerning motor vehicle accidents.