Hands-free sets a driving danger, shows study

THE use of hands-free phone sets poses a considerable danger for motorists, according to new research.

A study by the British Transport Research Laboratory concluded that hands-free phone conversations impair a driver’s performance more than other common distractions such as talking to a fellow passenger or using a car’s entertainment system.

The research shows that the reaction time to road signs and other hazard warnings was the slowest among drivers who were engaged in a conversation using a hands-free phone set.