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New vehicle infotainment systems can take drivers' eyes and attention off the road and hands off the wheel for dangerous periods of time, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. 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. Removing eyes from the road for just two seconds doubles the risk for a crash, according to previous research. With one in three U.S. adults using infotainment systems while driving, AAA cautions that using these technologies while behind the wheel can have dangerous consequences.
AAA has conducted this new research to help automakers and system designers improve the functionality of new infotainment systems and the demand they place on drivers.
"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. "When an in-vehicle technology is not properly designed, simple tasks for drivers can become complicated and require more effort from drivers to complete."
Does keeping your eyes on the road really matter when traffic is stand-still anyway?
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Thursday October 05 2017, @04:56PM (2 children)
That may well be so - but how long does it take you to take your focus off of the road, read a line of text, then focus back on the road? It takes longer than it took you to do the same 40 years ago, amirite? Now, if it takes you an extra half second, what about all of our peers who never did learn to drive like a madman? All those old bastards who have led sedentary lives, never once outrunning a cop at age 20, or age 30, or age 40? Are you trusting THOSE idiots to drive at you while reading text on a screen? Hey, man, if you have a death wish, just say so. There's no need to beat around the bush - you're an anonymous coward anyway!!
(Score: 3, Funny) by bob_super on Thursday October 05 2017, @05:19PM (1 child)
> read a line of text, then focus back on the road? It takes longer than it took you to do the same 40 years ago, amirite?
Do trendy sunglasses come as bifocals?
Switching to reading glasses mid-drift sounds like quite a trick.
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday October 05 2017, @09:25PM
Hiw about tri-focals or the "graduated lens" options? No one whould be driving with them, ever. Bad enough seeing parents and grandparents trip up steps because of them, let alone trying to see the road while tilting the head the wronf way and looking through the "close" part of the lens...
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex