Growing technology makes it easier to stay connected 24/7, which makes our super-connected world go round. But this constant connectivity can cause problems - scariest of which is the danger of distraction. We all know we probably shouldn’t be chatting on the phone or texting away while driving, but it’s all too apparent that for some reason, people just can’t follow these simple rules. The latest in the disappointing world of distraction-driven disasters? The Los Angeles Metrolink train that killed twenty five people when it ran a red light. Although the train company has rules prohibiting the use of wireless electronic devices, it is suspected that the engineer may have been texting a group of teenagers aboard the train, causing him to miss the signal.

MSNBC ran an article this morning with some interesting information on the subject:

  ’“The prevalence of driving while distracted can be attributed to technology and our societal mindset to be available at all times,” said Nationwide Insurance earlier this year, after doing a survey about the problem.’

Several states are working to outlaw DWD (driving while distracted), but as we can see, a law may not make much of a difference. As of right now, only five states have banned text-messaging while driving: Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington state, as well as the District of Columbia. Seven other states; New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, Nevada and Delaware, have bills pending that would ban text messaging by all or specific segments of drivers.

So how do you do your part to decrease the problems and effects of DWD?

1. Don’t text, email, dial, or IM. It seems counterintuitive that we’d even need to say it, but anything that involves using one or both hands to push itty-bitty buttons and the brain-power required to type out a sentence or two on a non-standard or tiny keyboard is going to add a significant degree of danger to your driving.

2. Two hands on the wheel & Eyes straight ahead. If you can’t keep yourself off the phone for the commute, make sure you’re equipped to talk as safely as possible. Invest in a headset or car kit that will allow hands-free conversation and touch-of-a-button controls for answering calls. Higher end headsets, matched with the right phone, even allow hands free dialing - a function that allows you to dial a number simply by stating the contact’s name.

• Corded Headsets: The least expensive option for going hands-free, a corded headset will allow easy answering of calls at a minimum price. With headsets as low as $20, many do double duty as a stereo headset that enables private listening to your cell phone’s music.

• Bluetooth Headsets: A versatile option, a Bluetooth headset will keep you wireless, hands-free, and connected at all times. With a wide variety of the newest Bluetooth headset, Gammoth’s Customer Support will help you find the headset that fits your needs. Whether you want the newest and coolest Jawbone 2, or need a high quality headset that will withstand some wear-and-tear, we’ll help you find the Bluetooth that’s best for you.

• Stereo Bluetooth Headsets: My personal favorite- a Stereo Bluetooth headset provides the maximum in music-listening experience and also keeps you connected with phone taking and making capabilities. Many headsets have call placement, reception, and volume buttons built right in, and all will ensure you don’t miss any calls while listening to your favorite music.

• Bluetooth Car Kits: If you’ll only need hands-free capabilities in the car, one of the easiest and highest-quality options is to have a car kit installed. While this method of going hands-free is a little pricier, it’ll pay for itself when you realize it’s ease of use and supreme sound quality, as a Bluetooth Car Kit can use your vehicle’s speakers to transmit your conversation.

• Bluetooth Speakers: The same concept of the Bluetooth Car Kits - high quality speaker use of your phone when in a certain area, but less of a commitment. Cheaper, portable, and without the necessity of installation, a Bluetooth Speaker is perfect for someone who likes to be on speaker phone (or who hates having a pesky little earbud on them) but isn’t sure they want to be confined to the car.

Whatever your hands-free choice is, make sure you make one. While the cost and time investment of getting a Bluetooth product may at first seem daunting, think of the safety you are gaining in exchange. There’s no doubt you’ll decide it’s worth it.

Looking to go Bluetooth but not into the headset-thing? Try a Bluetooth car kit! Car kits are an easy way to stay safe, connected, and undistracted while driving. Here’s a look at some of Gammoth’s favorite Bluetooth car kits.

BlueAnt Supertooth Light

The BlueAnt Supertooth Light Bluetooth speaker is a convenient hands-free solution for your car, office or home. Thanks to full duplex speakers and noise/echo cancellation technologies, the BlueAnt Supertooth offers incredibly high quality audio and much higher volume than is available on most other speakerphones. A simple interface with adjustable volume, large Accept and End/Reject call buttons, and a charge indicator light make the BlueAnt Supertooth exceptionally easy to use, especially when you’re focused on other tasks, such as driving. With trusted BlueAnt technology, and a sharp look, this is a very useful (and easy-to-use) Bluetooth solution.

Features:

• Support for voice-dial enabled devices
• Last number redial
• Ability to pair with up to 5 different devices
• Magnetic clip to car visor
• Wall charger and car charger included with device

Parrot Bluetooth Car Kit 3400 LS-GPS

Bluetooth Car kits from Parrot allow you to experience handsfree conversation safely and wire-free. Turn on your car engine and your phone connects wirelessly to the car kit. The LCD display allows you to view your phonebook and identifies incoming calls. 3400 LS-GPS Bluetooth car kit includes color LCD display, GPS capability and Parrot universal radio mute unit Compatible with all Bluetooth capable phones. Professional installation with vehicle electrical and audio wiring schematics is required, which increases the price-point of this product, but ensures easy and correct set-up. Besides, what could be more useful than a Bluetooth product that docks right to your dash, allowing voice commands, caller ID, and echo cancellation and also doubles as a GPS navigation system?

Features:

• Bluetooth hands-free kit with color screen and active GPS Antenna for 12 channels
• LCD Color screen
• Adjustable brightness and contrast
• Customized color interface with wallpapers
• Caller photo display
• Display of the last numbers dialed, missed calls and calls received
• Echo cancellation
• Voice recognition up to 150 names
• Hi-fi polyphonic ringtones

Iqua Vizor Portable Car Kit v2.0

For as much time as you spend on the road each day, your need for an efficient, safe and stylish mobile communication solution is increasing with every turn of the wheel. The new Iqua Vizor is the solution you have been waiting for in hands-free mobile communication. Safety and class can now both come first. The Iqua Vizor is a portable, lightweight, pocket-sized hands-free device with elegant design that is suitable for virtually any car’s environment. Using a Bluetooth wireless connection with your mobile phone or PDA, the Iqua Vizor provides you with excellent audio quality—and comfort to go with it. At only$64.99, this is a very affordable Bluetooth option, with the style of a higher end model. Since no professional installation is required, this is an easy-to-use, inexpensive Bluetooth solution for the consumer on-the-go.

Features:

• Answer/end/reject call
• Last number redial
• Voice dial activation (when supported by mobile phone)
• Call waiting
• Volume control, mute
• Fast call function (save and dial to your favorite number)
• Auto reconnection at power on and disconnect at power off
• Pairing/memory erase
• Compatible with any brand of Bluetooth mobile phone that supports the Hands-free or Headset profiles

From included GPS with professional installation to the small, stylish, inexpensive Iqua, a Bluetooth car kit can suit whatever needs you may have. Improvement and innovation is occurring constantly in this booming industry, so it’s important to keep in mind what you need most in a Bluetooth solution and then to search for you perfect device.

With only 4 weeks left until hands-free laws go into effect in Washington and California, hands-free Bluetooth products have been seeing a little bump in business, and for good reason. A Bluetooth headset or speaker is a great alternative to the dangerous handheld distraction of a typical cell phone call, and to the thought that we might have to put off a phone call the entire length of a car ride. And with just under a month to go until it will be illegal to talk on the phone without a hands-free system, now is the time to decide which system is right for you.

•  The Law
  According to http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html, 5 states, Washington D.C, and the Virgin islands have banned cell phone use while driving. In addition to this, seventeen states have special laws regarding restricted or banned cell use for new drivers, and in fifteen states school-bus drivers cannot use the phone when they are toting passengers, except in the case of an emergency. While some drivers might see these restrictions as a nuisance, my first thought is that these laws should span much more than just a few states. With so many other options, and studies and accidents to prove we drive better without a phone in our hand, it only makes sense to make the switch to a headset or speaker system. I was most surprised to find that only Washington, Minnesota, and New Jersey ban text messaging for all drivers! While the hands-free laws have just begun, it seems the trend is catching on, with an aim to keep us all a little safer while on the road.
• Headsets
  -You’ve got Options: One great alternative to handheld conversation is to use a headset. There are both wired headsets and wireless Bluetooth enabled headsets to choose from. While a wired headset would do the job in the car, one of the advantages of having a wireless Bluetooth headset is the wide range of motion you get with it. As long as your phone is within up to 30 feet of your headset, you can answer phones at the touch of a button and talk freely while continuing doing whatever you were doing before. I know I enjoy being able to do the dishes and vacuum, while talking to my best friend four states away. This brings me to another perk of many wireless Bluetooth headsets - ambient noise cancellation. The recently released Jawbone 2 has those in-the-know raving, but may be new for those Bluetooth first-timers. With its NoiseAssassin technology, the Jawbone 2 rests against your cheek and picks up on vibrations when you speak to distinguish when you are talking, and is able to block all background noise. With its sleek look and smooth leather ear loops - not to mention a color option of gold, silver or black - this headset manages to be both attractive and practical. Another headset with noise cancellation, the Motorola MotoPURE H12, is actually my headset-of-choice at the moment. This headset uses CrystalTalk technology to eliminate background noise, and is one of the most comfortable options to date. I forget I am even wearing the Bluetooth until that familiar beep comes through, and I can then enjoy easy, clear, hands-free communication. Another popular option is the BlueAnt z9i. Available in black or red, this headset lives up to the standard BlueAnt is known for- comfortable, quality, inconspicuous headsets that work well and consistently.
  -How much will it set you back? While these headsets range from $79.99 to $129.99, there is an array of inexpensive options as well. Our least expensive wireless headset is the Jabra BT2040 Bluetooth Headset, at only $29.99, which gets the job done with up to eleven hours of talk time, automatic pairing to your phone, and barely even denting your wallet. Other inexpensive options include the Motorola H300 ($39.99) which is powered by a AAA battery, ideal for those who don’t want to have to worry about having one more thing to charge, and the LG HBM-770, which provides many of the features of higher-end phones, including echo and noise suppression and last call redial, for only $49.99.
• Speakers and Car Kits
  Aren’t comfortable with having a headset on, but still want to be safe? Do you prefer speakers to earbuds? How about the idea of just hopping in your car and using it as a personal office with a built in speaker phone system? Then a Bluetooth speaker system or car kit is perfect for you! With enhanced audio and much better sound quality than other speakerphones, the BlueAnt Supertooth Light has noise and echo suppression technology that allows easy and clear speakerphone communication in the car, in your home, and anywhere else you use it, without having to wear a headset or any other device. Car kits are more useful for those who plan to only use Bluetooth in the car, and can be installed in your car and actually use your car speakers as its own. The Parrott Blueooth Car Kit 3400 LP-GPS is one of the best on the market, with large, easy-to-use buttons and GPS capability, making it the ultimate car accessory.

With so many options, it’s important to figure out what is best for you, which is why you need to get started now. In California and Washington, you will no longer be able to use your phone without a hands-free solution, and you’ll want to be comfortable with whatever you are using when the law goes into effect. So do your research, ask questions, and find the best way to keep yourself, your family, and those you share the road with safe. There’s no reason to wait!

For more information…

 Interested in more on hands-free laws? 

Studies back up the Hands-Free Trend

More on the Jawbone 2