According to a AAA survey, 70 percent of Americans desire new technology in their cars, but only 24 percent feel that the technology already works perfectly. This is partly due to poor design choices on the part of car manufacturers. Another reason is that technology has unnecessarily complicated some of the simplest tasks. Irrelevant features are also of concern, as they they can be distracting. Pennsylvania motorists should be aware that distracted driving often leads to accidents.
Researchers from the University of Utah have conducted a study for the AAA on how distracting in-car entertainment can be. The participants, aged 21 to 36, were placed in a series of new 2017 vehicles and asked to try out different in-car entertainment systems, using voice commands, touch screens, and navigation tools. They were also asked to make calls, send texts, and change radio stations.
The study found that using the GPS and texting kept participants distracted for over 40 seconds. Some were reported to swerve out of their lanes, drive well under the speed limit, and fail to stop at stop signs. This can be troubling, considering how one in three Americans use in-car entertainment while driving. Previous research has shown that just taking one’s eyes off the road for two seconds doubles one’s risk for an accident.
Statistics have shown that the vast majority of car accident are caused by human error, and distracted driving is one of the leading causes. Occupants of other vehicles who are injured in a collision that was caused by a driver who was distracted by a cellphone or other feature might want to meet with an attorney in order to determine the best way to seek compensation for their losses.