Should handsfree driving be a law?
The mobile technology has changed noticeably since a decade. New capabilities beyond voice communications are being made available at an accelerated rate, compelling the user to upgrade to palm-size devices that allow activities such as checking of e-mail, surfing the net, receiving stock quotes etc.
The extensive growth in the wireless communications industry over the past ten years has been accompanied by growing concern for the drivers with cellphones. saving lives, preventing injuries and reduce traffic-related hazards through regulation, enforcement, economic incentives, educational programs, basic and applied research, and technology demonstration programs have become the main job of almost all government authorities concerned to traffic and communication.
There are many accessories like hands free, headphones, and speakers etc to reduce the risks while communicating on vehicle.
Risk of a crash
The inattention and distraction created by the use of a cellular telephone while driving results in increasing crash risk.
It is not surprising that individuals will attempt to optimize their time in the automobile by doing other things concurrently.
Since the introduction of cellular telephones in 1983, there have been dramatic changes in the cellular industry. With a growth rate of about 40 percent per year all over.
It was inevitable that the reduced size, reduced cost and increased functionality of the cellular telephone would find its use by drivers in vehicles increasing. Indeed, time spent commuting, caught up in traffic and just plain traveling, and could now be productive.
Cellular telephone use while driving is not without controversy. Public, legislative, and media concern about the safety of using a cellular telephone while driving has been expressed for some time. In recent years, perhaps because of the growing user population, the frequency with which concern has been voiced has grown considerably.
Some regulations
Within some U.S. states in international communities, legislative action has been adopted allowing the exclusive use of hands-free, wireless telephones while driving. In United States, no such attempts have been successful. In Washington State the motor vehicle code was amended to allow use of an “approved” headphone in association with “hands-free” wireless communications systems.
The Swiss Code of Traffic Regulations prescribes that “The driver must concentrate on the road and the traffic while driving. He or she may not carry out activities while driving which negatively impact the operation of the vehicle.”
Producer’s concern
Manufacturers recognize the risks of in-vehicle cellular telephone use. A major effort to educate their users on the “how,” “what,” “when” and “where,” of cellular phone use from the standpoint of safety. Example- they encourage the use of hands-free equipment in motor vehicles, along with use of memory-dial capabilities and voice activation features. Industry is continually improving the use installed car phones for drivers.
Manual dialing can be disruptive of both vehicle control performance, and situational awareness and judgment. The incidence and magnitude of vehicle control disruption while driving on public roads appears to be less than that encountered in driving simulators or on test tracks, but may even so pose a safety concern.
On-road studies indicate that if hands-free voice communications activities have any detrimental effects, they are on driver situational awareness and not on vehicle control performance like less capacity to time-share between cellular telephone use and driving tasks, greater propensity for risk taking, fatigue.
Conclusion
Life assumes grater importance than money at the end of the day. The whole issue seems to be very petty before Life. Hence the handsfree driving need not be elevated in to a law at all. Therefore safe driving should be given first preference while driving than communication.