“It was assumed that it was coming,” Lee Novotny, owner of Main Street Wireless in Chatfield, said of the hands-free driving law that went into effect in Minnesota on August 1, 2019. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, Minnesota is the 20th state in the US to pass a hands-free law. Novotny was not surprised. “I think it was an obvious one that it was coming,” he said. As more people are texting rather than talking on their phones, the number of distracted drivers has gone up. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reported that 29 people died on Minnesota roads due to distracted driving in 2018.
Since August 1, Novotny has noticed an increase in customers purchasing Bluetooth devices. “Sales of Bluetooth devices have gone up because of the law change,” he commented. There wasn’t a big rush of people coming into the store on August 1 or right after that though. Instead, it’s been a steady stream as people slowly adapt. Some customers receive a ticket or a warning for breaking the law before they decide to take the leap and get set up with Bluetooth technology for their vehicles. Other people, mainly flip phone users, have been upgrading their phones for the newer Bluetooth technology necessary for going hands-free in the car. A few upgrade to a smart phone while others opt to replace their flip phone with a new one that has the right technology.
Most newer vehicles have Bluetooth capability built in, which means that all you need to do is pair your phone with your vehicle to be hands-free, but what if your vehicle doesn’t have it or your phone isn’t compatible? Novotny recommended several different options to become compliant with the hands-free law. Bluetooth headsets that you can pair with your phone are one, with multiple versions ranging from earpieces so small they can barely be seen to full headsets with microphones. The type each person will need depends on where and how they will be using it. Truck drivers or people who drive heavy equipment would require noise canceling full headsets while an earpiece would work better for someone driving a personal vehicle.
Another option is to put a Bluetooth speaker in your vehicle. Novotny cautioned people to make sure they purchase the right type though. Some speakers can only be used for listening while others have voice capability, allowing the user to take phone calls through it. “Other devices beyond just the Bluetooth include phone mounts for vents,” Novotny explained. A cradle or magnet mount allows for one-touch and voice activation use of the phone. A benefit to this is that it can be easily moved to other vehicles as well.
Novotny noted that Verizon offers a product called HUM that has many features including hands-free phone usage. The device offers Bluetooth, roadside assistance, navigation, and more. “Almost every single car will be compatible with it,” Novotny said.
Novotny, who opened Chatfield’s Main Street Wireless in 2013 with his brothers Paul and Corey, noted that all three of them along with Manager Chad Glaser are required to stay up-to-date on all of the latest technology via online classes. Glaser’s official title is Solution Specialist, and he lives up to it by helping each customer find what they need and matching them with the product that is best for them.
The hands-free law is here to stay and to keep people safe. No matter what phone you own or vehicle you drive, there are solutions available to keep you hands-free. You can find out more by calling Main Street Wireless at (507) 867-0000.
Leave a Reply