‘Tis the season to be jolly; or at least that is what automakers want you to feel so that you take a stroll down to the car lot to buy something new or trade up. Depending on when you were last in the market for a car, you may not be familiar with all the latest bells and whistles.
This year’s car commercials emphasize new electronic safety improvements, such as hands free calling features, standard backup cameras and automatic braking systems. Nevertheless, it is important for new car buyers not to get caught up in all the hype that comes with image of hands free calling or texting. After all, these safety features may not be all that they are cracked up to be.
According to research conducted by the National Safety Council, the human brain is simply not capable of handling all the information that comes with attempting to operate a motor vehicle while holding a conversation at the same time. Essentially, the research indicates that if you are paying attention to the road, you cannot reasonably carry on a conversation, because you simply don’t have the bandwidth to do so. And if you are intently listening to what is being said, chances are that you are not paying attention to the road.
Either way, hands free modules could be a recipe for disaster. With that said, drivers who choose to buy cars with hands free mobile systems still must use reasonable care while behind the wheel. If a driver fails to do so, he or she could be held liable in the event of a crash.