A new study shows that using voice – i.e. Siri on the iPhone – to send text messages while driving is just as dangerous as texting with your fingers while driving. The study concluded that the driver’s response time was significantly delayed no matter which method they used.
The study, conducted by Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University, found that drivers took about twice as long to react as they did when they weren’t texting. Their eye contact to the roadway decreased when using both texting methods. The study included 43 participants driving a test track without any cell phones present. The same group of participants then drove the course while texting and then one more time while using a speech-to-text application. According to the study, the speech-to-text method actually took longer than text message. This was most likely due to the need to correct errors in the transcription. The reason why using voice-to-text is just as dangerous as texting is because you as the driver are still using your mind to think of what you are trying to say, thus causing distracted driving. The biggest concern here is that the driver felt safer using the voice-to-text method because they were not actually text messaging. This may actually lead to false belief that texting while driving using an electronic transcriber is safer when in reality it is not. According the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, 6.1 billion texts were sent per day in 2012 in the U.S. alone. 25% of drivers admit to reading a text or email while driving in any given month, while 26% admitted to sending a text message. If you are interested in having us speak at your child’s school as a part of our Commit to Quit texting and driving program, please visit: https://www.lawampm.com/community/commit-quit/ Read the full article here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/23/us-usa-texting-idUSBRE93M04820130423
Mr. Finkelstein is the Managing Partner of Finkelstein & Partners, LLP. He has become a noted consumer activist through his representation of injured individuals against corporate wrongdoers and irresponsible parties.
An accomplished litigator, Mr. Finkelstein has represented Plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases. He has successfully handled dozens of multi-million dollar cases.