National Safety Council infographic shows hands-free devices give drivers a false sense of security
ITASCA, IL--April 29, 2014: The National Safety Council estimates 26 percent of all car crashes involve cell phone use. Although texting is widely considered the riskiest form of distraction, just 5 percent of crashes involve text messaging. An astounding 21 percent involve talking on a cell phone – handheld or hands-free.
An NSC survey revealed that 8 in 10 drivers mistakenly believe hands-free devices are safer than using a handheld phone. In reality, hands-free devices do not offer drivers any safety benefit. It's the cell phone conversation that is distracting – not the act of holding the cell phone. Drivers who are cognitively distracted by their cell phone conversations can miss seeing up to 50 percent of their driving environment, even though they are looking right out the windshield. NSC debunks the safety myth about hands-free devices in its new infographic available at nsc.org/handsfreerisk.