Is using the speakerphone really riskier than holding the phone to your ear in the middle of a busy city street? The reality is that the danger is not just the moment of a call, but the whole pattern surrounding it—the act of answering, maneuvering the car, and the way the car’s audio system handles the sound. When someone finds themselves stuck in heavy traffic while expecting an important call, the question becomes how to manage the situation safely and calmly without losing focus on the road.
In a recent survey conducted by the vehicle-focused channel Behind the Wheel on Viber, more than 3,000 readers shared their experiences and preferences. The results offer a vivid snapshot of driving habits during calls and the varying degrees of perceived danger associated with each approach. The insights are worth considering for anyone who spends time behind the wheel in urban environments.
From the survey, roughly 5% of drivers admitted they simply do not take calls while driving under any circumstances. They would rather end the conversation and return the call later, even if the issue at hand seems urgent. About 10% of respondents continue to talk on the phone in a regular, handheld manner, showing little hesitation about the potential distraction. An additional 15% participate in conversations using the speakerphone and the vehicle’s audio system, highlighting a preference for hands-free operation and improved visibility of the roadway while still engaging in the discussion.
The next group represents another common pattern: about 22% of participants choose not to answer at all when the phone rings and plan to handle the matter once they reach a safe stop or later, sometimes after the drive ends. They argue that leaving the call unanswered reduces immediate distractions and the complexity of in-car phone interactions. The largest single bloc, at 46%, relies on the speakerphone integrated with the car’s audio system, balancing the convenience of hearing and being heard with the continued need to keep eyes on the road. This split reveals just how varied driver behavior can be when calls come in during traffic, with many prioritizing safety first, even if it means postponing important communications.
- In practice, the act of engaging in a phone conversation while driving often competes with the primary task of driving, creating moments of micro-distraction that can compound quickly in dense traffic or unfamiliar routes.
- Beyond this study, the broader discourse on road safety emphasizes minimizing any form of distraction, including voice commands, screen interactions, and the chore of navigating prompts from a car’s infotainment system.
- Readers can catch more practical discussions about safe driving habits on the Behind the Wheel program on RuTube, where these topics are explored in longer formats and with real-world demonstrations.