Whilst I agree that making unnecessary phone calls in the car requires a break in concentration, I can find no reason to support the latest charity onslaught to ban hand free kits. I agree that people still use their mobiles whilst driving and I have sat at the side of people texting almost every day. But, do you bat an eyelid at the driver who is unwrapping and eating a mars bar. This requires just as much hands free as any Bluetooth call and if he happens to tune his radio, then it’s even worse. If I have a passenger, should I not speak to them? But if I partake in the use of a
mind altering drug, which risks dropping burning ash onto my lap, then no one questions it, why, because the smoking lobby is so strong. Most hands free communication goes on between staff or bosses on the road and the office, keeping the business world ticking along. It is an important part of modern life and communication is vital in industry.
So should we tie one hand behind our back and let the world pull away in business terms as we limit when we can communicate with staff or our office?
Or is there an in between step that means you can keep your hands on the wheel. Ford certainly think so and their Sync control system has already won them praise from testers for its ease of use and quality of use. Pairing is really easy and compatibility is improving by the week as software updates are released. Its designed to be operated by voice control and is not just a fitment in many of their cars, but it is also fitted on almost every one of their small, medium and large vans.
The latest system has added functionality to the original system with the ability to adjust the temperature in the cab by voice request, so surely a Bluetooth system that allows this sort of hands free operation, must be seen as a safety add-on not a risk at all
Ford have recently added Apps to give you further functionality of your system, with integration of your phone and your Sync system to allow voice control of your music archive and change radio stations with just a command. It’s a voice controlled iPod
My experience of the system is that it matures and it improves as it learns your voice, reliability improves day on day. Now, just by saying Phone…phone home I can call home without ever taking a hand off the wheel. Then revert back to music or radio station of choice. So I argue this, yes I will talk to someone as I drive as I do when I have a passenger, but I can keep my hands on the wheel the whole time. When you are fumbling with your heating tomorrow and refusing to use a Bluetooth kit, give it some thought
