Professor Gemma Briggs of The Open University<\/a> shares her research on driving while participating in a hands-free phone call. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “The human brain isn’t like a computer… What we do is shift between two tasks, and there’s a momentary lag called a resumption lag when we shift back to the first task.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n This cognitive distraction, known as “inattentional blindness,” means drivers may fail to notice hazards directly in their line of sight. \u201cIn some of our laboratory studies we\u2019ve presented a hazard directly where someone is looking \u2013 and we know they are looking at it because we\u2019ve got an eye tracker on them \u2013 but they fail to see it,\u201d says Briggs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Open University also conducted a study involving 470 police officers<\/a> from England and Wales, suggesting that hands-free conversations cause significant cognitive distraction, impairing reaction times and hazard awareness. After participating, 88% of officers reported a shift in perspective<\/a>, acknowledging the risks of all mobile phone use while driving, not just hand-held. Despite this, the law allows hands-free device use when driving, reinforcing a dangerous misconception: that hands-free means risk-free.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The reality is that drivers engaging in hands-free calls suffer from cognitive distraction – their minds are split between the road and the phone conversation. This impairs reaction times, reduces hazard awareness, and significantly increases risk of collision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the UK, it’s illegal to hold and use a phone or similar device while driving<\/a>, even when stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic. Breaking this law can result in six penalty points and a \u00a3200 fine, and drivers who passed their driving test in the previous two years risk losing their licence. A further three penalty points can be dealt if the device was obscuring the view of the road or if the driver exhibited poor control of their vehicle. In extreme cases, a driver might be taken to court and be banned from driving, with a fines of up to \u00a31,000 (that’s \u00a32,500 if driving a lorry or bus).<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, drivers can<\/em> utilise devices with hands-free access, such as bluetooth headsets or voice commands, provided they do not hold them during use and ensure the devices do not obstruct their view. But police can stop you if you do not have full control of your vehicle<\/a>; and this can result in prosecution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are involved in a collision, your phone data can confirm you were in a phone call at the time of impact, and regardless of whether you took the call hands-free, this can suggest driving without due care and attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For businesses with driving-for-work policies, allowing hands-free calls may seem like a productivity boost, but it puts employees, and other road users, at unnecessary risk. Drivers engaged in hands-free conversations experience divided attention, impairing their reaction times and hazard awareness. This not only jeopardises their, and other’s, safety but also exposes your company to potential accidents, legal liabilities, and reputational damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prioritising your company drivers’ undivided attention to driving tasks is essential for ensuring safety on the roads, and many businesses rule against hands-free mobile phone use in their driving for work policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To understand just how distracting hands-free phone use can be, take part in this simple exercise produced by the Open University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people struggle to recall both accurately, showing how divided attention impacts our ability.<\/p>\n\n\n ![\"Hands-free](\"https:\/\/www.quartix.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/hands-free-calls-graphic.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Laws Around Mobile Phone Use When Driving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How Does Hands-Free Mobile Use Impact Your Business?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Put Your Attention to the Test \u2013 Video Exercise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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