And what’s so wrong about that, if you’re driving? You’re not holding the phone, after all…
If you’ve taken a Driver’s Ed class anytime in your life (within the past couple years that hands-free calling has actually been around, at least) you’d know by now something that a horrifying number of people don’t—hands-free phones are like a fraction of a percent less risky than hand-held to use while driving.
That makes no sense.
Yeah, that was the first thought that went through a lot of peoples’ brains when this revolutionary idea was first introduced. Why? Isn’t the big problem with cell phones that you have to take your hands off the wheel to use them, and look down at the screen to text?
Well, that’s some of the problem. It’s never good to drive with one hand, no matter how pro you may be at doing so on a bike. However, that’s not all of it. When you’re driving along and talking over the wire to someone, your attention strays from where it should be—the road—to the person that you’re talking to. And unlike the person sitting next to you, the person on the other end of the connection won’t know if you’re making a tricky turn or maneuvering through cars or anything. They won’t quiet down for you when you need to concentrate, and you can’t suddenly shut up at times to concentrate or you’ll risk offense.
Imagine the scenario like this: you’re playing video games (COD, Black Ops, Pokemon, whatever) and you’re all intent on your game, when someone decides to start talking to you from the side. You’re not taking your eyes or hands off the game—but your mind is, the moment you start talking, and then, unless you’re a real pro gamer—GAME OVER.
Except, real life isn’t a game. So, don’t treat it as one—the cold, harsh, reality, is, there is no “back” or “reset” button. So, treat the one life you have carefully—even more carefully than the last life you’re on two levels from beating a game after half a year’s worth of intense work.