As much as it seems that voice-activated text messaging would be second to calling as a recommended alternative to texting (besides exclusively placing your attention on the road), in some states that is simply not the case. In fact, some legislature already in-place prevents drivers from even utilizing voice recognition to actively create text messages.
With the addition of the virtual assistant Siri in iPhone 4S, Apple made reading and sending text messages with a user’s voice possible through powerful voice recognition. Texting effectively becomes easier and hands-free, both necessities for proper vehicle usage.
One of the downfalls of using any type of voice-recognition software to write text messages is that it would be illegal to check for sentence-breaking to down-right odd errors or a meaning lost in transcription; in a way being forced to blindly send messages. While not a conversation-breaking negative (unless you are already intoxicated…), legality gets more complicated from there.
While 34 states have banned texting while driving, only Vermont bans in-vehicle “electronic communication” of any kind. Therefore, Siri may net drivers a ticket in Vermont. Many states, including California and Georgia, have enacted similar restrictions for drivers under 18 – that a phone can not be used in any way while behind the wheel.
A study conducted at Virginia Tech University has shown that drivers using hands-free devices have a slower response rate on average than minimally legally-intoxicated drivers. Numerous studies have led to the conclusion that both hands-free and hands-on cell phone usage result in the same increased four-fold risk of crash.
Legal or otherwise, people are going to naturally want to communicate during their many commutes. Little good is done when the safest way to do so is a banned activity. In retrospect, if hands-free messaging is similarly as illegal as the “one hand on the wheel, another on a phone” approach, more recklessness will be caused as a result since there is less incentive to be careful. (Though drivers should always pay close attention to their surroundings while driving, the road is not an ideal place.)
As hands-free messaging gains momentum, legislators will more-than-likely take a second look at current laws based on how responsibly we use voice-recognition software.
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