Hands-free devices built for use in cars are supposed to take away the danger of people texting and talking on traditional smartphones and related devices while driving. The theory is simple. With both hands on the wheel and no eyes on small screens, driving automatically becomes safer. That conventional wisdom turns out to be untrue, which could be a blow to both consumer electronics makers and car manufacturers.

New information compiled by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

With three out of four drivers believing that hands-free technology is safe to use, Americans may be surprised to learn that these popular new vehicle features may actually increase mental distraction. This research can serve as guidance to manufacturers who increasingly market hands-free systems as safety features. The good news for consumers is that it is possible to design hands-free technologies that are less cognitively distracting.

Since this “safer” technology has not been widely deployed, the potential of better hands-free devices is nothing more than potential.

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AAA researchers added:

The results, which build on the first phase of the Foundation’s research conducted last year, suggest that developers can improve the safety of their products by making them less complicated, more accurate and generally easier to use — a point AAA hopes to use in working with manufacturers to make hands-free technologies as safe as possible for consumers. While manufacturers continue their efforts to develop and refine systems that reduce distractions, AAA encourages drivers to minimize cognitive distraction by limiting the use of most voice-based technologies.

A simpler way to interpret the information is that people cannot do two things at one time, or at least cannot do them both well. Even use of Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone Siri technology or a similar feature in other smartphones poses a danger.

The auto manufactures may suffer the brunt of the research results. 4G connectivity has become one of the latest major selling points for cars. The marketing of the feature has gone so far that is has become a competitive advantage.

According to General Motors Co.’s (NYSE: GM) Chevy division:

Whenever your vehicle is on, available OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi is too. It offers great signal quality and bandwidth for up to 7 devices.

So, seven people can use one device each, or the driver can use seven simultaneously. What Chevy markets as an important feature may be as much a danger as a convenience.

The popularity of hands-free technology features in cars has come just as the same technology is marked as dangerous.

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