Hands-Free Communication Systems in Cars – Good or Bad?

Attendees of the 2012 Detroit Auto Show got a glimpse of Ford’s updated Sync system. The hands-free technology allows drivers to change radio stations with their voice and push a button to listen to a text message, among other features. Ford says it allows drivers a safer way to do something they are going to do anyway, which is stay in communication while driving. However, safety experts think it is more distractions for drivers and it will lead to more car crashes.

Officials with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) caution that using hands-free systems causes drivers to miss visual and audio cues much like hands-on use does. A person’s mind is only capable of focusing on a certain number of things at once, said an agency spokesperson. Regardless, the auto industry spokesperson said drivers are asking for the new technology and that automakers can provide it while maintaining safety standards.

Distracted driving causes 8,000 car accidents every day in the United States, according to the American Automobile Association. Advancements in technology are usually a good thing, we hope the auto industry keeps driver safety ahead of convenience.

Has a distracted driver impacted your life or the life of a loved one?

Colson Hicks Eidson – Florida attorneys