Traffic Safety

New vehicle infotainment systems take drivers’ eyes off the road and hands off the wheel for potentially dangerous periods of time, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

In a new study, AAA found drivers using in-vehicle technologies like voice-based and touch screen features experienced very high levels of visual and mental demand 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.

“Using these technologies while driving can have dangerous consequences, as motorists could miss stop signs, pedestrians and other vehicles for over half a minute while their eyes and attention are off the road and hands off the wheel,” said Michelle Donati, communications manager for AAA Arizona.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety commissioned researchers from the University of Utah to examine the visual (eyes off road) and cognitive (mental) demand as well as the time it took drivers to complete a task using the infotainment systems in 30 new 2017 vehicles. 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.