It is no secret that distracted driving continues to play a role in far too many motor vehicle accidents. While there are numerous types of actions that can take your focus off the task at hand while out driving along California roads, cell phone use remains one of the most common causes of distraction.

The use of hands-free devices may appear to eliminate many of the risks associated with cell phone use while driving. However, these devices might not be as safe as they seem, and studies indicate that even with hands-free devices, conversations or text messages may still disrupt your cognitive functions.

Driver inattention

Even if it is legal to use hands-free devices while operating a motor vehicle, that does not mean that it is always the safest decision. Some examples of the possible risks involved with use of such devices might include:

  • Cognitive function: Hands-free devices may help reduce manual and visual distractions, but this may do little to keep you from experiencing cognitive disruptions while behind the wheel.
  • Multitasking: Studies indicate that the brain is not truly capable of multitasking, and your focus may continue to bounce back and forth between your conversation and the task at hand.
  • Reaction times: Cognitive distractions can also disrupt your ability to respond to what is in front of you, and anything that slows reaction times while driving can prove exceedingly dangerous.
  • Lingering impact: Even after a conversation ends, the contents thereof may linger in your mind for several minutes, and this can also act as a form of cognitive distraction.

Even if you choose to avoid all sources of distraction while driving, you might not always be able to rely on others to do the same. Sometimes, the actions of a distracted driver could place your safety at significant risk.

When collisions occur

A major collision can take place in the blink of an eye, and the outcome of that moment could have a lasting impact on your life. Such an incident could leave you with severe or life-altering injuries and facing a lengthy recovery period. Extensive medical bills and the costs of recovery may also prompt dire monetary challenges that could pose a significant threat to your financial stability and leave you with questions about all your available options and the next steps to take to protect your future.