Put your phone away: Distracted driving includes hands-free talking

(StatePoint) In an age of constant communication and connectivity, it can be difficult to take a break. But drive time is when your phone should take a backseat to safety, say experts.

“You don’t need to be texting to be distracted by your phone,” says Kelly Nantel, vice president of communications and advocacy at the National Safety Council. “Even hands-free talking is a major distraction.”

Research indicates drivers using handheld and hands-free phones only see about 50 percent of all the information in their driving environment. This phenomenon is known as “inattention blindn...