Hands-free calls are just as distracting for drivers, says study

Using a hands-free system to take a call while driving is completely legal, as opposed to actually picking up the phone and holding it to your ear. Therefore, hands-free calls should be safer, right? According to Queensland University of Technology (QUT), not really.

The study, performed by Dr. Shimul Haque of QUT, measured the reaction time of drivers that used the phone hands-free, drivers that actually held their device and ones that didn't use a phone at all during driving. The tests were done in a simulator, presenting the same situation to all drivers.

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