PhoneRanger Encourages Safe Use of Handsfree Devices for Cell Phone Use While Driving and Asks for Cell Phone Industry Cooperation in Further Studies

PhoneRanger Encourages Safe Use of Handsfree Devices for Cell Phone Use While Driving and Asks for Cell Phone Industry Cooperation in Further Studies

(PRWEB) July 15, 2005

A recently released study of driver behavior in Western Australia suggested that drivers who talk on their cell phone are four times (4X) more likely to be involved in accidents than those who do not. The study, “Role of cellular phones in motor vehicle crashes resulting in hospital attendance” by S. McEvoy et al. is published in the British Medical Journal, available at bmj.com. In a July 12 press release, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety spotlights that study and suggests (although does not conclude) that cell phone use while driving is too risky. Counterintuitively, the study and implicitly the IIHS state that handsfree phones are no safer than hand-held phones. The IIHS release can be viewed here. http://www.iihs.org/news_releases/2005/pr071205.htm

PhoneRanger generally agrees with the findings of the study and the IIHS’ interpretation except for their conclusions about handsfree phones. The Australian study clearly admitted that many “so-called hands-free phones that are in common use today aren’t really hands-free” and that “sufficient data” was not available to compare different types of handsfree phones. We believe that a fair comparison of handsfree devices such as those marketed by PhoneRanger with older wired accessories will show a significant difference in consumer acceptance and efficacy.

PhoneRanger develops and markets wireless headsets for VoIP, internet radio and hands-free cell phone use while driving. In contrast to most handsfree cell phone accessories, the PhoneRanger is wireless and consequently much less cumbersome and uncomfortable. When used in combination with voice-activated cell phones, PhoneRanger headsets should be as safe or safer than any hands-free cell phone solution on the market.

PhoneRanger recognizes that any cell phone call can be distracting and recommends minimal use of cell phones while driving. If drivers must operate their cell phone, we strongly encourage the use of wireless headsets such as those now widely available for Bluetooth-enabled handsets. For the 85% of US cell phones that are not Bluetooth-enabled, devices such as the PhoneRanger should provide a comparable degree of safety.

The IIHS noted that they were unable to conduct the safety study in the United States because of opposition from cellular phone companies. This is consistent with the cellular industry’s past opposition to state legislation banning the use of cell phones without handsfree devices. (Use of a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving is now outlawed in New York, New Jersey and Chicago) Apparently the cellular phone carriers believe that mandating handsfree devices will reduce the consumption of airtime minutes. PhoneRanger finds this opposition to common-sense legislation transparently self-serving and ultimately self-defeating and calls on the industry to support studies in the United States of safety technologies that can reduce this risks attendant with driving while using cell phones.

About Phone Ranger

PhoneRanger designs and distributes electronic devices that allow consumers to take advantage of new communications technologies such as hands-free cell phone use, VoIP telephony, internet radio and podcasting. For more information, please visit http://www.phoneranger.com. PhoneRanger is a product of Atlantic Systems, a New York City technology development firm.

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