AAA: Hands free tech doesn't solve distracted driving

Hands free technologies that let drivers talk, text and email while behind the wheel may be just as dangerous as manually manipulating an electronic device while driving, a new study finds.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently teamed up with the University of Utah to explore the mental distractions that come along with hands free in-vehicle technology. Although touted as a safer alternative, the study found that hands free technology can actually compromise brain function.

The study, led by Dr. David Strayer, assessed how drivers coped with multi-tasking while behind the wheel by measuring brainwaves, eye movement and other metrics. The study focused on common tasks, such as listening to an audio book, talking on the phone and responding to voice activated emails.

Strayer's team found that simple tasks like listening to the radio didn't pose much of a distracting threat, but the study ranked talking on the phone – whether handheld or hands free – as a “moderate risk.” The study found responding to voice activated emails to be the most taxing on a driver's cognitive function, with the task earning an “extensive risk” rating.

The distracted driving research found that as a driver's mental workload increased, reaction times slowed and visual cues – such as stop signs – became less apparent.

"These findings reinforce previous research that hands-free is not risk-free," said AAA Foundation President and CEO Peter Kissinger. "Increased mental workload and cognitive distractions can lead to a type of tunnel vision or inattention blindness where motorists don't see potential hazards right in front of them."

Based on its research, AAA is urging automakers to limit or completely disengage the functions available through hands free technologies while a vehicle is in motion. AAA is also hopeful that its findings will spark a dialogue with policy makers and safety advocates.