Road Safety has always been an important factor in our day to day lives. In recent years, due to the massive increase of portable communication devices available and used by the general public, the government have looked at many ways to improve road safety.

An ever increasing number of motorists use their mobile phones while driving.  Road Deaths have dramatically increased in recent years as more and more people join this modern trend. In a bid to reduce the number of fatalities caused by using a mobile whilst driving, in 2007 the government increased the maximum fixed penalty for those convicted of using a mobile device whilst driving to £60 and 3 points. In extreme cases where serious injury is caused, the fine can be unlimited, even resulting with imprisonment.

Mobile phone manufacturers and in car entertainment specialists have been looking at suitable ways to allow drivers to communicate safely, as well as keeping them in pocket with a clean licence. Over the last few years, numerous products have appeared on the market, ranging from basic wired hands-free kits that consist of an ear piece and a mic connected to the phone by a thin cable, to devices that wirelessly connect to the phone using Bluetooth.

Bluetooth has quickly become the most popular excepted solution for wireless needs, and products that use Bluetooth have rapidly become available all over the world.

In recent months Bury, a communications company based in Germany, have managed to integrate Bluetooth with state-of-the art voice recognition software, to make the most complete hands-free package available to date, the Bury 9060.

Comprising of a dash-mounted PDA device that directly connects into any vehicle stereo via Drive and Talk Mute leads, it pairs to the Drivers phone via Bluetooth.

Once paired, the driver can use the phone by either touching the PDA screen, navigating through its menus, or go completely hands free and navigate through the device using voice commands. The Voice recognition software is so advance it can recognise anyone’s voice without prior programming.  

If that wasn’t enough, the Bury 9060 pulls the complete phonebook from the phone, and will also allow manual dialling, for example saying “One” will dial the number 1.

The whole system works with the vehicles speakers, so if a call comes in or is made, the Bury 9060 mutes the stereo and the call audio comes through the speakers. One some mobile phones, including Sony Ericsson Models, the Bury will even read out incoming text messages!

As more people join the increasing volume of traffic on our roads, technology will be right behind, offering a safe solution for the hazards that present themselves. Bury have shown everyone the future in mobile phone hands-free, and will undoubtedly continue to lead the way in Bluetooth solutions for years to come.

The use of hand-held mobile phones while driving was banned (in the UK) back in 2003, and for good reason. The latest statistics show that phone-driving is far more dangerous than first anticipated. Several studies have been undertaken by government departments and driving charities to learn more about the effects of this increasing trend whilst driving.

Studies show that the reasons for phone-driving being dangerous are the two fold, firstly physically breaking contact with the vehicle steering wheel & taking your eyes from the road for prolonged periods (Obviously far more dangerous when texting). Secondly lapsing in concentration when being involved in the conversation. The second although as serious as the first, is some what of a null point as many other distractions can cause the driver to lose concentration, e.g chatting to passengers, changing the radio (or CD’s) or even applying make-up while driving. 

These lapses in concentration are now considered more dangerous than drink driving and you are as likely if not more likely to cause an accident. The lack of concentration on driving the vehicle severly reduces our reaction speeds when on the phone, therefore when we need to react to an incident on the road we have far less time than we would when driving normally. 

There are obvious advantages to having a mobile phone present in the vehicle, 9/10 people carry them as a social habit anyway . However being able to contact people in the case of a break down or other emergences can be vital in any situation. Its the work of road safety charities and government departments to try ensure this is the only time mobiles are used in the vehicle (by the driver) with out the aid of handsfree buletooth car kits.

Police are now able to hand out on the spot fines of £30 and points on your licence for careless and dangerous driving. The police force however do recommend the use of handsfree car kits when driving as they cut out the first set of problems when using the mobile. Calls can be received & answered via steering wheel controls or voice commands, on a lot of new bluetooth car kit products allow the user to browse the phone book, messages and settings with out having to pick up the phone.

Driver safety is paramount, if you do anything dangerous whilst in control of a vehicle you are likely to penalised at the very least. If you think their is no problem using a mobile phone while driving remember this; you are more likely to cause or be involved in an accident while using a mobile as you are drink driving, and i know must of you look down upon that.

Government & charity campaigns are starting to sink in with the majority of people and handsfree bluetooth kits are becoming very popular, however not enough of us are using them.

The solution to this problem is simple. In the form of handsfree bluetooth car kits. These kits are readily available and come in two forms, an integrated kit that connects into the vehicle’s stereo & speaker system, and unviersal bluetooth kits that can be swapped into different vehicles. The integrated system has far better sound quality and more functions than the universal kits however both reduce the chances of having a accident significantly

Just about everybody has a mobile phone (Cellphone) i think a statistic shows that over 250 million people own a mobile in America alone. In England that figure is close to 100 million phones sold. Our dependence on them is now more obvious than ever! we live in an environment where we need to be contactable 24/7, and feel exposed if we are not.

However this reliance on mobile phones is leading to a willingness to use mobiles in dangerous situations, even when we know we shouldn’t. For example using the mobile whilst driving is becoming more and more common leading to an increased number of serious accidents. There are two main reasons why using the phone whilst driving is a serious hazard, firstly operating the mobile whilst driving involves looking away from the road and physically removing your hand from the steering wheel whether to answer or dial a number. Secondly people can become absorbed in the conversation or texting and not pay attention to the road.

Although we are aware its socially unacceptable to phone and text while we drive we are often overcome with desire to do so, often believing that any negative effects of doing so can be compensated for by driving skill and experience, as a growing number of people are finding out this is not the case. Evidence in several recent studies in the UK shows that the effects of using the mobile whilst driving are very similar to those of a drink driver. Concentration levels are severely reduced when reaching for the phone or dialling a number and reduced further when texting.

Its safe to say that using you mobile phone whilst driving is now considered dangerous at the least. Not only for you and your passengers but other vehicles on the road too. Police forces often enforce this with fixed penalty’s and points in an aid to reduce this growing trend. There are many new initiatives set up to allow the use of mobile phones whilst driving with the aid of handsfree bluetooth car kits.

Advanced bluetooth car kits are now available for the majority of vehicles that allow you to fully navigate through your phone via voice commands, you can access your phonebook, text messages and other features on your phone with out moving your hands from the steering wheel totally eliminating the first problem associated with phone-driving.

Unfortunately the second problem associated with using the phone whilst driving can’t be resolved with any device, When operating a vehicle you should always concentrate to the best of your ability. It only takes a split second to cause an accident and that alone is down to the drivers involved. However the use of a bluetooth car kit can significantly reduce the changes of being involved in an accident, that can only be good for drivers everywhere.