Can new car technologies, even those designed to help the driver, be dangerous? Some safety and cognitive science experts think so.
In this age of technology, we’re constantly seeing cool new gadgets and gizmos all across the automotive industry. Some technologies are for convenience and entertainment, while others attempt to actually make the driving experience safer. All have their pros and cons.
One controversial technology is Ford’s SYNC with MyFord Touch voice-controlled/steering-wheel-controlled driver interface, which uses a smartphone-supplied Internet connection to access and control various applications (ranging from entertainment to news to navigation to phone communications). Catch up on news or sports, call a friend, and retweet someone’s happenings while keeping your hands on the wheel.
Ford believes this technology increases driver safety by minimizing some distractions that could take your eyes off of the road (such as tuning the radio or thumbing an entry into your smartphone). However, some experts feel these non-driving activities are inherently dangerous distractions regardless of whether you’re participating with your hands or with your voice.
“Without a doubt the new technology that we have has created a lot more opportunity for distraction,” Robert Sinclair Jr., the New York spokesman for AAA has said. “These devices do not increase safety. The biggest distraction by far is the cognitive.”
Mr. Sinclair goes on to explain that driving itself is a multitasking activity, and when drivers are not keeping their focus on the road, their mind will be distracted. “The distractions that do exist are very mentally distracting, especially when it comes to checking social networking sites. We find all of this very disturbing.
“Going on Facebook or sending a Tweet is engaging in a complex conversation that should absolutely not be done while driving.”
He is not alone. David Strayer, Professor of Cognition and Neural Science at the University of Utah, says, “Some activities such as listening to the radio are passive, but others such as texting and checking Facebook are not. The mind can only do one thing at once when driving – it’s been long published in scientific journals. People who say that in-car technology is not distracting to drivers just don’t know the science of the brain.”
Other not-so-new technologies can be a distraction as well. Many states now have laws against texting and some states ban talking on the phone while driving. Even using your vehicle’s navigation system can be dangerous if you’re taking your eyes off the road to use it. The Department of Transporation made an interesting point: taking your eyes of the road for just 4.6 seconds at 55 mph is like driving the length of a football field blindfolded.
And for the first time ever, federal officials have recently issued guidelines for automakers to reduce distractions in their in-car electronics systems. The Department of Transportation regulations suggest that vehicles should be designed to not permit outgoing texts, Facebook messages or tweets while a vehicle is in motion. They feel off road glances related to device operations should be limited to 2 seconds or less.
Not all technology is bad, of course, and even the SYNC system discussed above has literally been a life saver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends many new technologies for crash avoidance and crash protection.
In the end, drivers are responsible for controlling their vehicles, regardless of the technologies that are available. Those defensive driving skills we learned long ago still apply, and we have to minimize or eliminate distractions and keep our eyes – and minds – on the road.
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