Why do car insurers discourage hands-free mobile phone use?
According to studies the use of hands-free devices behind the wheel is just as dangerous as handheld use. Research from the University of Sydneys Injury Prevention and Trauma Care division shows people who use mobile phones while driving including hands-free kits – are four times as likely to be involved in a crash. In addition, research from the Transport Research Laboratory in the UK, finds that drivers talking on both handheld and hands-free devices have 30 per cent slower reaction times than those who have been drinking and are 50 per cent slower than those who are sober. Research from multiple sources suggests mobile phone use causes a combination of physical, mental, auditory and visual distractions which can cause a severe deterioration in a drivers ability to react to unforeseen events. Though hands-free use is not illegal in the UK, legal action can still be taken against drivers that use them if it is seen as a contributory factor in an accident. This has led some insurers to
