In-Vehicle Technologies, Even Once No Longer in Front of Drivers, Cause Prolonged Mental Distractions
The problem of distracted driving continues to plague New Jersey roadways. A concerning number of accidents are caused by drivers texting or talking on the phone while they drive, and the rates of these accidents continue to rise. While in-vehicle entertainment systems and hands-free or voice-activated systems are a legal way to use phones and media while driving, they may not provide a safeguard against accidents caused by distracted drivers. Instead, improved safety on the roads may come from new technologies that eliminate distractions altogether.
Distractions can be mental, not just visual
Researchers at the University of Utah, in connection with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, conducted a study using ten of the latest in-vehicle entertainment systems intended to be used hands-free, as well as the current versions of voice recognition software installed on Microsoft, Android, and Apple smartphones. Researchers found that, even when completing a simple task such as skipping a music track or using voice-activated commands to send a text, drivers were mentally distracted from the task of driving for up to 27 seconds afterwards. When traveling at 25 mph, that length of time would allow a driver to cover three football fields worth of road before fully turning their attention back to the road. “The results indicate that motorists could miss stop signs, pedestrians, and other vehicles while the mind is readjusting to the task of driving,” said Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The study found that, among the three most popular voice recognition systems, Microsoft’s Cortana created the greatest distraction to drivers, and that the most distracting in-vehicle entertainment system was the one installed in the 2015 Mazda 6.
New app aims to make distraction elimination an enticing game
A new app, called Text Ninja, seeks to provide an incentive for drivers to ignore their phones. The app will silence a user’s phone while they drive, and will also allow them to win points and badges as they do more and more driving without engaging with their phone. Since research shows that people often check their phones while driving because they are eager for the psychological reward obtained from reading a text from a friend or loved one, the developers are hoping that offering users a different reward in the form of points and badges will likewise incentivize people to avoid using their phones.
If you have been injured by a negligent or distracted driver while on the road in New Jersey, contact the experienced Wayne personal injury and car accident attorneys at Massood Law Group for a consultation on your possible car crash lawsuit, at 1-844-4MB-HURT.
