WEDNESDAY, April 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) — Hands-free cellphone use while driving is not risk-free driving, new research shows.

Eighty percent of U.S. drivers think hands-free smartphones are safer than hand-held ones when they are behind the wheel, the National Safety Council found. But the council’s experts analyzed 30 studies and found using a hands-free device while driving is no safer than using a hand-held phone because both are a distraction.

“While many drivers honestly believe they are making the safe choice by using a hands-free device, it’s just not true,” David Teater, senior director of transportation initiatives at the National Safety Council, said in a news release. “The problem is the brain does not truly multitask. Just like you can’t read a book and talk on the phone, you can’t safely operate a vehicle and talk on the phone. With some state laws focusing on hand-held bans and carmakers putting hands-free technology in vehicles, no wonder people are confused.”

Although 12 states and the District of Columbia have banned the use of hand-held cellphones while driving, hands-free devices have not been regulated by any state or municipality, according to the council.

A growing number of cars are being equipped with dashboard systems that allow drivers to make hands-free calls, send text messages, email and even update their social media statuses, the study authors noted.

The researchers found that 53 percent of those polled believe these devices are safe because they were installed by the car’s manufacturer. Moreover, 70 percent of those surveyed said they use hands-free devices for safety reasons.

The National Safety Council has designated April as “Distracted Driving Awareness Month,” to draw attention to the fact that hands-free cellphone use while driving carries its own risks.

More information

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides more information on distracted driving.