AAA Study: Infotainment Systems in Newer Cars Create Increased Distractions Behind the Wheel

PHOTO| AAA Foundation

A new study by the AAA Foundation found that infotainment systems in newer cars take drivers’ attention off the road for potentially dangerous periods of time.

Drivers using in-vehicle technologies like voice-based and touch screen features were visually and mentally distracted for more than 40 seconds when completing tasks like programming navigation or sending a text message, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

“Some in-vehicle technology can create unsafe situations for drivers on the road by increasing the time they spend with their eyes and attention off the road and hands off the wheel,” said Dr. David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said in a statement. “When an in-vehicle technology is not properly designed, simple tasks for drivers can become complicated and require more effort from drivers to complete.”

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety commissioned researchers from the University of Utah to examine the time it took drivers to complete a task using the infotainment systems in 30 new 2017 vehicles. Study participants were required to use voice command, touch screen and other interactive technologies to make a call, send a text message, tune the radio or program navigation, all while driving down the road.

Programming navigation, the most distracting task, took an average of 40 seconds for drivers to complete.

With one in three adults using infotainment systems while driving, AAA cautions that using these technologies while behind the wheel can have dangerous consequences.

For more information on the study, click here.

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