Unsafe at any speed?

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Cars (as practical transportation) have been around for a century now. And, since the 1960’s, we have been working to make our cars safer for us to drive. Of course, some vendors are less than reputable (Volkswagen and Takata Airbags come to mind), but generally our cars have been loaded with safety features- like air bags, non-skid brakes, etc.

But, now, in a bid to cater to what they perceive to be driver demands, the automobile manufacturers are installing all kinds of diversions that are not making our cars safer.  Quite to the contrary- these additions are probably lethal.

Oh, sure, we’ve been warned that talking on our cell phones is a dangerous practice. But, to be honest, if we use hands-free devices, they are as safe- if not safer- than is the radio that is already in the car. Or having passsengers with whom we talk sharing the vehicle ride.

Entertainment Systems Distract our Attention
https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/Distraction-Rankings-by-Vehicle-System.jpg

But, these new entertainment systems are more of a distraction. The apps in questions include Google Now-, Apple Siri-, and Microsoft Cortana- activated systems. And, we do use them. (I don’t, but some 1/3 of all drivers have admitted to using such voice-activated tech in their cars via their phones or entertainment systems in the past six months.)

Distracted Driving

According to a recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study, using such technology means we are distracted for 27 seconds after their use. The test involved ten different 2015 vehicles- all additionally equipped with visual monitoring devices to discern what really happened in the cars. In addition, for some of the tests, specialized equipment that could determine where our eyes focused, plus a few other special testing systems, were also installed.

Now, 27 seconds may not sound like much time. But, let’s consider a few scenarios. If we were driving on the Freeway (at legal speeds), we’d have traveled 1/2 mile or 176 car lengths. Considering that few, if any of us, maintain 10 car lenghts behind the car in front of us… Or, if we were traveling in towns, where the speed limit is 25 mph, we travel some 990 feet- or more than enough time to kill a few pedestrians who decided to cross in the middle of the street- or even were using the legal crosswalk.

According to the AAA report, the Mazda 6 systems were the worst. On a scale of 1 to 5, their distraction level was 4.6. The next two worst systems were the Hyundai Sonata and Chrysler 200c, which scored 3.8 on that scale. Oh, the Chevy Equinox had the lowest score of 2.4.

Keep in mind that if we were totally focused on driving that score would be 1. Listening to the radio scores a 1.2. By the way, trying to solve math problems or learning new words while driving actually jumps our distraction to 5. No wonder I detest listening to non-fiction books in the car. Because I spend time focusing on driving and miss the book content entirely!

(Now, despite the logical course of testing drivers when talking with passengers or dealing with recalcitrant children in the back seat, such studies have never been done by the AAA. I am fairly certain this has been the case because the results would be devastating to their cause- that examining your phone or entertainment system to call someone is about as dangerous as scolding kids in the back seat. [Let us not forget that most folks actually will also be watching these kids via their rear view mirrors to boot!])

But, this study does demonstrate that the auto manufacturers who want to sell these expensive systems to us should be forced to better engineer their user interfaces. It is clear that driver distractability has not been among the parameters examined in choosing what system to include as standard or optional equipment in cars.

Moreover, most drivers consider installed equipment to have been tested for safety. Given all the publicity, most drivers know that holding their phones and talking or looking at their infotainment screens while driving (ok, that really means hoping they won’t have an accident, since they are not controlling the vehicle or its actions) is dangerous. But, installed equipment? That has to be safe or it wouldn’t be allowed, right?

These findings also mean something else has be considered. Reading your eMail or sending a text when you are stopped at a traffic light can be dangerous, too. Because you might not be fully focused on driving for another 10, 15, or even 27 seconds when that light is green and you take off.

Now, I’ll bet you that last paragraph has you reconsidering your actions in the car.

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