Mobile Phones and Driving, Why Headsets Are Necessary
Using a bluetooth headset whilst on the move provides the opportunity to stay in touch and continue to use a mobile phone when driving. The lightweight headset makes a wireless connection to a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, laptop, computer or gaming console. Bluetooth headsets are available in a choice of monaural, one ear piece, or binaural, two ear piece, with a wearing style option of over the head or in the ear. Wireless headsets are proving to be the most popular hands free system, especially as Bluetooth enabled mobile phones are growing increasingly popular. You can use a Bluetooth wireless headset with a PC to chat over the internet, or if your wireless headset supports the AD2P profile you can listen to stereo music via a wireless connection.
In February 2007, a new law came into force in the UK stating that a fine of £60 and receipt of 3 penalty points on a driver's license or up to £1,000 on conviction in court will be given to drivers found driving whilst using a mobile phone. This amount rises to £2,500 on conviction in court for drivers of goods vehicles, buses or coaches. In order to comply with the legislation it is required that a hands free headset or bluetooth headset is used as well as a cradle fitted to the dashboard of your vehicle to mount a mobile phone. The advantage of using a bluetooth headset over a traditional hands free headset is the distraction and avoidance of cables getting in the way whilst driving. In addition, most bluetooth headsets can be operated to make phone calls at the press of a button on the earpiece, whereas a traditional hands free headset requires that you reach over to the mobile handset in order to operate it.
Government statistics show that a driver is 4 times more likely to have an accident whilst driving and using a mobile phone, or even having used a mobile phone 10 minutes prior to a crash, according to a study of drivers in Perth, Australia. The report points out that although many people are changing over to hands free devices this system is not necessarily any safer, as the element of distraction and lack of concentration is still present. 34% of drivers using their cars for work purposes admit to making mobile phone calls without the use of bluetooth headsets whilst driving, and 6% of drivers keep their phones switched on in the car for fear of missing an important call. Research undertaken at Utah University, USA claims that driving and using mobile phones is as dangerous as driving whilst over the alcohol limit. Despite legislation, mobile phone use is still prevalent whilst driving, as we can see on a day to day basis. Young male drivers are most likely to use a mobile phone when driving, and 30% of them admit to sending text messages when driving. According to an American study, 25% of all road accidents state side are related to use of mobile phones whilst driving.