Behind the Idea
Multi-tasking is essential in this fast-paced world. We all know that. How many times have you seen a person eating lunch, applying make-up, reading an article, or talking on a cell phone? Several times, I bet. How about doing all of that while driving? It is inevitable that people need to multi-task just to keep up in today’s world. However, the expense of multi-tasking while driving should not be compromising our own and other’s safety. This is exactly why many states have enacted the hands-free driving ban.

Why Hands-free?
Many studies have tested whether hands-free devices actually help increase the driver’s attention on the road versus juggling a handheld device. A survey done in January 2007 by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. revealed that out of 1,200 drivers surveyed, 73 percent talked on their cell phone while driving. Young drivers had the highest percentage. The idea of hands-free devices is that if drivers have a Bluetooth earpiece, then they will not be worrying about holding their cell phone to their ear. Instead, they can have two hands on the wheel and still be “multi-tasking.”

Am I affected?
Let’s break these bans down to make them easily understood.

*Prohibit text messaging while driving

State-wide Ban	City Bans
-California	-Chicago, IL	-Santa Fe, NM	-W. Conshohocken, PA
-Connecticut	-Winnetka, IL	-Brooklyn, OH	-Flower Mound, TX
-New Jersey*	-Gary, IN	-North Olmstead, OH	-Highland Park, TX
-New York	-Brookline, MA	-Walton Hills, OH	-University Park, TX
-Utah	-Detroit, MI	-Conshohocken, PA	-Gainesville, TX
-Washington*	-Albuquerque, NM	-Lebanon, PA	-Glendale, WI
As of recent, Massachusetts, Iowa, Maryland and the city of Dallas, TX have proposed regulation for cell phone bans.  Tennesse is currently in the process of banning texting while driving.  The state of Pennsylvania is in the process of proposing a cell phone ban.

So What Now?
Laws are made for a reason. Some states believe that talking on a cell phone while driving is hazardous to other drivers and to you. The best way to multi-task while driving hands-free is to purchase a Bluetooth headset. There are hundreds of headsets to choose from and each headset is as unique as you are. You can read the article “Choosing A Bluetooth Headset” in the news section of this blog to help you in finding the right headset for you. No worries, if you don’t want to wear a headset while driving we have options. Check these products out:

•Bluetooth speaker- This speaker clips right to your visor like a garage door opener. When you get in your car, all you have to do is push one button on the side of the speaker and the mic pops out… you are instantly connected. The sound quality is great and honestly, who cares if people drive past you and wonder who or what you are talking to?
• Bluetooth car kits – This is a product for those that do not have Bluetooth installed in their car and do not want a Bluetooth headset. You, yes you, can have the best of both worlds with a professionally installed Bluetooth car kit. A speaker is placed under the dashboard and a small controller is place on the console. These normally connect automatically when your car starts and have voice recognition. All you have to do is press one button, say the name of the person you are trying to call, and you are connected. Oh how we love technology….
• Bluetooth GPS - As some of you may of heard by now Garmin, the GPS navigation company, is making a phone! It could be because so many people have started using their GPS units as a Bluetooth headset/speakerphone. For models that have Bluetooth, you can connect your phone and yes, use the Garmin GPS unit as a Bluetooth speaker.

So as you make the switch from hand-held to hands-free devices, we ask you to continue talking like no one is watching, moderate your hand gestures, oh yeah, and keep two hands on the wheel.

del.icio.us   digg

This entry was posted on Monday, February 18th, 2008 at 8:13 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.