How often have you heard someone claim that using hands-free device renders behind-the-wheel cell phone conversations perfectly safe? Well, the National Safety Council (NSC) has news for those drivers: Using a cell phone while driving, even when both hands are planted firmly on the wheel, is dangerous behavior – and to believe otherwise is to buy into one of the biggest distracted driving myths out there.
The reality, according to the infographic “The Great Multitasking Lie,” is that drivers using handheld or hands-free cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in a car crash. NSC also estimates that drivers using cell phones are involved in 21 percent of all crashes in the United States.
NSC’s infographic outlines four myths surrounding distracted driving:
- Myth 1: Drivers can multitask.
- Myth 2: Talking to someone on a cell phone is no different from talking to someone in the car.
- Myth 3: Hands-free devices eliminate the danger of cell phone use during driving.
- Myth 4: Drivers talking on cell phone still have a quicker reaction time than those who are driving under the influence.
View the infographic below to learn more: