Using a mobile phone in a car, even with hands-free equipment, might be deemed dangerous by some. But let’s be honest for a moment; why is it anymore dangerous than say talking to your passengers, listening to the radio, or picking your nose?

Arguably, the health and safety brigade were right to ban using handsets without hands free facilities. Driving whilst trying to dial a tricky number, or text a friend, is not a good idea. So, hands-free devices are all the rage now.

But, now campaigners, are starting to talk about a total ban of the mobile phone in the car. Amongst others, The National Safety Council in the U.S. and ROSPA in the U.K., are talking about a total ban with some enthusiasm. Why, because concentrating on a call means you are not concentrating on the road.

Fair point and difficult to really argue against. Who has not been on a tricky call with the office, or with a loved one, and can’t remember the last few miles that were driven? But maybe, just maybe, the human brain can cope with a degree of multi-tasking without blowing a fuse? What jobs do we do which requires total tunnel vision; very few?

They say that good combat fighter pilots are chosen because they have a brain which can process four jobs at once: they fly the jet, handle the weapon systems whilst taking into account the tactical situation, talk to ground control and order a pizza with anchovies for their return to the airfield. And it’s likely the average experienced car driver is doing just the same sort of thing. Their brains can handle more than just the act of driving. But, even if statistics prove that you are slightly more likely to have a crash whilst talking on a phone even when using hands-free equipment, you would have to have statistics to show say how many crashes were caused because the drivers attention was maybe on a hard-going radio play. Or they were listening to a emotional piece of music on the car stereo which distracted them. Of their passenger was arguing with them. And which parents haven’t been driven to distraction whilst their kids shout and scream in the back of the car.

In short, a car driver is never going to drive in a vacuum. Despite what campaigners might want, total concentration is maybe something only totally achieved whilst on your driving test. So, okay, the protest groups might well have the best intentions, but are they being truly realistic with this current campaign?

Learn more about Mobile phones and Driving