STUDIES SHOW DRIVING IS |
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(NAPSI)-Sixty percent of motorists say that driving can be a stressful experience, nine out of 10 of them attributing it to heavy traffic and 80 percent saying rude drivers are also a primary cause, according to a recently completed survey of nearly 1,000 drivers conducted by Harris Interactive® and commissioned by Parrot, a leading manufacturer of Bluetooth® hands-free car kits. Yet, despite rising fuel prices, tension-filled traffic does not seem to be going away anytime soon. According to a report from the Texas Transportation Institute released in 2007, congestion causes the average traveler to spend nearly 38 extra hours behind the wheel. Most people assume stress is limited to their workplace and home but the car can also be a cause of regular frustration, according to Paul Wilson, world-renowned author and guru of calm. He claims that even a relatively event-free journey can add further tension in a person. According to the survey, other stress-inducing factors include road and weather conditions and talking on the phone while driving. So what can drivers do to stay relaxed while behind the wheel? Wilson provides tips for drivers to make their time in the car as stress-free as possible. “Frustration is often caused by people concentrating on elements that they have no control over, like other drivers, traffic lights and the flow of cars and trucks,” said Wilson. “In order to see stress levels fall, drivers need to concentrate on things they can control.” One way to feel in more control is to put down handheld cell phones. “Mobile phones and cars can be a dicey combination. But the diciest part is keying in numbers or text and fiddling with your controls,” Wilson explained. “Of course, if you use voice dialing or hands-free, or if you pull over to devote all your attention to your caller everyone is better off-you, your caller and other drivers.” Bluetooth® technology that offers hands-free communication allows drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, helping eliminate the stress of trying to handle a phone while driving and still enjoy the benefits of staying connected in the car. Options range in flavors from old-fashioned corded headsets to high-end installed car kits with features including voice recognition for easy dialing, caller ID and image display, among others. All the options have benefits depending on a driver’s needs. Parrot offers several solutions for drivers looking to make calls comfortably from the car. The Parrot MINIKIT, a portable speaker that clips onto the visor, is designed to make voice-activated calling in the car a reality. The speakerphone uses voice recognition, eliminating the need to handle the phone while behind the wheel. For drivers who prefer something more like the factory-installed systems found in some new cars, Parrot offers its 3200 LS-Color unit, a Bluetooth® car kit that integrates into the vehicle’s sound system and automatically mutes the stereo when a call is in progress. It also features a dash-mounted color screen that can display information, including caller and photo ID. How best to use a cell phone while in the car is a growing concern both as a matter of comfort and as a legal issue. Five states (NY, NJ, CT, CA and WA), plus the District of Columbia and numerous cities such as Chicago, have banned the use of a handheld cell phone while driving. And over a dozen other states have either enacted partial bans or are currently considering legislation. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.parrotsafedriving.com. A recent survey found that drivers consider talking on the phone while driving to be a distracting practice. |
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