In an effort to prevent distracted driving – which has become one of the leading causes of car accidents in the U.S. in recent years – car makers are increasingly installing voice-controlled infotainment systems in vehicles, allowing drivers to control the in-car navigation systems, audio systems, and other similar entertainment and convenience features without having to take their hands off the wheel. However, while these hands-free systems are touted by the auto industry as the perfect solution to the distracted driving problem, there are those who argue that using these types of infotainment systems is not that safe and doesn’t eliminate driver distraction entirely.
Now, these claims can be backed up by some pretty solid evidence, with a couple of new studies showing that voice-controlled systems distract drivers and take their attention away from the road. The University of Utah conducted two studies for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, and found that using hands-free automobile infotainment systems is not as safe as drivers and the general public are led to believe.
A number of volunteers, along with 162 students with the University of Utah participated in the studies, where they were asked to perform various tasks while operating a driving simulator, as well as while driving real cars on a closed road. In one of the studies, the participants had to try and make phone calls and use the radio through Chevrolet’s MyLink system, Mercedes’ COMMAND system, MyFord Touch, Chrysler’s UConnect system, Toyota’s Entune, and Hyundai’s Blue Link systems, and found that Chevrolet’s system was most difficult to use and created the biggest distractions, while designating the Entune system as the least distracting, comparing the distractions it causes to the ones caused by listening to an audio book. Entune was followed by Hyundai’s Blue Link.
Pic 1. Image courtesy of NYtimes.com
Apple iPhone’s Siri was put to the test in the second study, with students using the hands-free, eyes-free system to compose, send and receive texts, and post to Facebook and Twitter, and the results showed that Siri was even more distracted than other voice-controlled systems.
To determine the severity of the distractions caused by these systems, scientists used heart-rate monitors, to measure drivers’ reaction times. They rated the distractions using a five-point system. They found that the level of distraction depends largely on the accuracy of voice recognition software, and that composing text messages and emails was more distracting than receiving and listening to messages with a hands-free system.
One of the most significant findings was the category 4 level of mental distraction caused by Apple’s Siri, which will surely be very useful to the tech giant’s efforts to modify and improve this system and make it safer to use.
David Strayer, psychology professor at the University of Utah, who led the studies, said that the main goal of these studies was to detect the weaknesses of in-vehicle entertainment and information technology, and come up with suggestions as to how these technologies can be improved and become more accurate, and become less of a distraction, at the same time.