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What's Your Handle?
This Week's Tips
A hands-free headset might not make it any safer to talk on a cell phone while driving.
Talking on the phone while driving increases people's reaction times even when they use hands-free devices, a recent study revealed. Such delays could increase the risk of accidents and make it more difficult to avoid sudden obstacles. Arrive at your destination safely by devoting your full attention to the road.
Traffic accidents contribute to approximately 40,000 deaths and nearly 3 million injuries in the U.S. each year. One of the leading causes of accidents is drinking and driving. Approximately 40 percent of auto accident fatalities are alcohol-related. A lack of compliance with seatbelt laws also puts people's health at risk. Roughly half of the people who die in traffic accidents are not wearing their seatbelts at the time. The effect of cell phone use on driving habits is a new area of research. Early evidence suggests that the cell phone is distracting and could be a common contributing factor in traffic accidents.
RealAge Benefit:
Taking proper precautions when driving can make your RealAge as much as 3.4 years younger.
Conversation disrupts change detection in complex traffic scenes. McCarley, J. S., Vais, M. J., Pringle, H., Kramer, A. F., Irwin, D. E., Strayer, D. L., Human Factors 2004 Fall;46(3):424-436.
