[mack]

Phones today allow phones to transmit via FM frequency the sound from the phone to the car speaker system. That frees up your hands to engage in conversation. But does this make any difference to car driving safety?

What do you think?

[Guy]

Conversing back and forth is more complex than just listening to the radio, and I think I would be more distracted than just having the radio on. The hands free side of it is good.

[Byker]

Why is it that people need to talk on the phone while they are driving anyway? Oh, I can understand it every now and then, but so much that we need things like the voice coming through the speakers? Guy is right. The hands-free side is good, but conversations take a lot more thought than listening to the radio, which makes them more distracting.

[Angelinus]

I can't deal with having much conversation from people in the car never mind from a phone call. I really find it affects my focus so I don't do either. I expect those who travel for work have to find a way to communicate with the office though, so maybe hands free is necessary for them.

[mack]

I avoid conversing while driving, but that simply cannot be avoided on occasions. I used to have a business partner who loves talking while driving. I always offer to drive the car -- his or mine -- every time we ride together because he's making me nervous.

[Guy]

I'm on the road all day, most days. When I see a vehicle doing potentially hazardous stuff, 99 out of 100 times the driver is talking on a cell phone and has lost track of the road situation.

[mack]

Conversing with someone inside the car, especially with someone who sits with you in front, helps in long drives. But conversing with someone on the phone --- even through a hands-free phone --- is something else.