Plantronics Helps British Columbia and Winter Olympic Tourists Keep Both Hands on the Wheel While Talking | February 2, 2010
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwire - February 1, 2010) - With less than two weeks until the Olympic Opening Ceremonies, British Columbia today lifted the grace period for its law banning the use of handheld mobile electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle unless a hands-free device is used. Plantronics (
"With more than 250,000 tourists expected to descend on the Vancouver area for the Olympics, drivers on unfamiliar roadways need to be aware of the law and how to prepare themselves," explained Clay Hausmann, vice president of Corporate Marketing at Plantronics. "Complying with the law is easy because users have more options than ever before. Plantronics offers a broad portfolio of headsets that fit a wide range of preferences and budgets while providing the superior audio quality, comfort and style that consumers expect from Plantronics."
Effective today, February 1, B.C. will impose a $167 fine for talking on a handheld cell phone while driving. Hands-free devices, such as headsets, minimize physical and visual distractions associated with talking on the phone and driving by enabling motorists to keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. Drivers in B.C. should consider the following safety tips while using a headset and driving:
-- Try it out: Test your headset with your phone before you drive. Familiarize yourself with the headset's controls and adjust the fit and volume. Make sure your headset and phone are connected and store your phone so it is out of your way but still accessible. -- Get organized: Make sure frequently called numbers are programmed into your phone. Most phones have voice-dialing; be sure to use this feature so you can always keep both eyes on the road. -- Set it up: Add headset preparation to your pre-driving checklist. Buckle your seatbelt, check your rearview mirror, and put on your headset and make sure it's connected to your phone before you drive. -- Focus on the road: Always remember that driving safely is your first priority. You should focus on the road and only place and receive calls when it's absolutely necessary.
Best-in-Class Bluetooth Headsets
Among the Bluetooth® headsets available to drivers in B.C. are the Plantronics Voyager® PRO and the Plantronics Discovery® 975 headsets.
The Plantronics Voyager PRO provides the industry's most advanced noise-canceling and wind noise reduction technology. Winner of the coveted Editors' Choice awards from CNET and PC Magazine, the Plantronics Voyager PRO features AudioIQ2, next generation digital signal processing (DSP) technology, to deliver superior noise and wind cancellation as well as rich, natural inbound audio so you can hear and be heard clearly. Ideal for drivers, Plantronics Voyager PRO is extremely comfortable and the battery provides up to six hours of talk time before having to recharge.
The Plantronics Discovery 975 headset, also a CNET Editor's Choice award winner, is the perfect blend of innovative design and advanced audio technology. It provides ingeniously simple one-touch controls to keep drivers focused on the road, not the headset. The sleek, elegant design houses sophisticated technology, including AudioIQ2 DSP technology with dual-microphones to cancel background noise and three layers of WindSmart® technology to minimize wind noise. It comes with an innovative rechargeable carrying case that can triple talk time from 5 hours to up to 15 hours.
Best Buy now features a full line of Plantronics Bluetooth wireless headsets including the award-winning Voyager PRO and Discovery 975. Plantronics headsets can also be found at Wal-Mart, Bell Canada, FutureShop, Telus, and Staples locations in British Columbia and throughout Canada. To learn more about the headsets and see a complete listing of Plantronics' hands-free products, please visit: www.plantronics.com.
Plantronics recognizes that there are occasions when driving circumstances make talking on a mobile phone -- handheld or hands-free -- unsafe. In these instances, motorists should pull over or hang up to protect the safety of themselves, their passengers and others on the road.
About Plantronics
Plantronics is a world leader in personal audio communications for professionals and consumers. From unified communication solutions to Bluetooth headsets, Plantronics delivers unparalleled audio experiences and quality that reflect our nearly 50 years of innovation and customer commitment. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100 and is the headset of choice for air traffic control, 911 dispatch and the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.
AudioIQ2, Plantronics, Plantronics Discovery, Plantronics Voyager and WindSmart are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Plantronics is under license. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
