Hands-free technology for drivers isn't less distracting, AAA Foundation study shows

A recent study from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that hands-free technologies are not less distracting on the road for drivers. 

Delaware Public Media reported that the new study shows that the worst performing hands-free system can still preoccupy a driver for a span of up to 27 seconds after interacting with the device. 

AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman Jim Lardear said, "The frustration that people may have when they try to use this technology causes them to concentrate for a far more and deeper amount of time than they really might be aware that they're investing in that activity." 

Lardear also revealed that a recent survey conducted among Delaware drivers shows 67 percent of them thought they would only be distracted for about 10 seconds when handing their hands-free devices.

The AAA Foundation study says that drivers are distracted up to 27 seconds even after the call is done, turning the radio, composing text message through voice command, and more. 27 seconds may be a short period of time, but it is enough for a driver to miss a stop sign or even slam into a car that went to a sudden stop in front, ABC News reported.

According to the Huffington Post, 27 seconds means passing through five city blocks or six football fields for a car running 40 miles per hour. The task of handling a hands-free system sticks on the driver's mind even after the activity is done. This is the distraction that it still inflicts on the driver, causing the person behind the wheel to not focus on the road. 

The AAA Foundation study shows that the Mazda 6 is the worst performer when it comes to hands-free system as of 2015, Microsoft's Cortana interface comes second worst. Apple's Siri is in the middle rank of the pack, while Chevy Equinox got the best rating. Lardear said that the study is not discouraging companies from developing hands-free system, instead they should develop something more intuitive and seamless to avoid distracting drivers on the road.