Mercedes adds camera for MS Teams App to new E Class

Why Hands-Free Driving can be More Dangerous Than Drink Driving

Mercedes-Benz’s new partnership with Microsoft is all over the headlines. The luxury carmaker is integrating Microsoft Teams into its upcoming E-Class models, giving drivers the ability to hop into conference calls from the dashboard, complete with in-car cameras and voice activation.

It’s being pitched as a productivity win, perfect for business travellers and remote workers. But from a road safety perspective, it’s a car crash waiting to happen - literally.

Let’s be clear: even if your hands stay on the wheel, your mind doesn’t. And that’s the real issue.

Cognitive Distraction: The Invisible Killer

We’re used to thinking of drunk driving as the ultimate driving taboo. But modern studies have revealed something even more sinister: using a hands-free phone while driving can be just as dangerous - if not more so.

A study by the University of Utah compared drivers using hands-free phones with those driving under the influence of alcohol. Astonishingly, the phone users performed worse. Their reaction times slowed, hazard detection dropped, and they were far more likely to miss crucial information - like pedestrians, signage, or other vehicles.

Why? Because driving is a task that demands continuous attention and active decision-making. You’re constantly scanning for threats, interpreting other drivers’ actions, adjusting to weather or road conditions. The moment you engage in a conversation - even through a Bluetooth system - you’ve given a chunk of your brain to something else. And that’s a problem.

The Dangers of “Safe” Tech in the Car

Mercedes says the in-car video function will only be available when the vehicle is stationary. Fair enough. But audio functions and screen prompts remain active while driving. So your attention is still split - between the road and the meeting. Between safe driving and “you're on mute!”

We’re not blaming Mercedes alone. Car manufacturers across the board have been loading vehicles with dashboards that look more like smartphones. Navigation, messaging, email, entertainment - these all pull your attention away from the road, no matter how ‘clever’ the interface seems.

Even the government’s own safety campaigns have shifted in recent years. While drink driving is still rightly demonised, there’s growing focus on distraction - including hands-free. According to the Department for Transport, drivers who use a phone (even hands-free) are four times more likely to be in a crash.

Mindset is Everything

When you're in charge of a couple of tonnes of flying metal, where your mind is at matters. Safe and enjoyable driving is about making deliberate, considered driving decisions based on your environment.

You can’t do that while you’re mentally sat in a virtual boardroom.

Your Brain Has Limits

The golden rule is this: nothing replaces human attention. And the more you divide yours, the more vulnerable you - and everyone around you - become.

So before you press “join meeting” from your dashboard, ask yourself: would you do it with a pint in your hand?!

July 2025