Most drivers believe that hands-free technology is safe, but these devices may actually increase mental distraction, according to new research conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
The studies rate the voice-activated dashboard infotainment systems in vehicles by automakers plus Apple iPhone's Siri voice command to gauge how much the systems distract drivers. Devices were ranked on a scale of one to five.
- Toyota's Entune: 1.7
- Hyundai's Blue Link: 2.2
- Chrystler's UConnect: 2.7
- Ford SYNC with MyFord Touch: 3.0
- Mercedes' COMAND: 3.1
- Apple's Siri: 4.14
To compare, a previous study found listening to the radio had a rating of 1.21, listening to a book on tape had a rating of 1.75 and talking to a passenger had a rating of 2.33.
"We already know that drivers can miss stop signs, pedestrians and other cars while using voice technologies because their minds are not fully focused on the road ahead," said AAA CEO Bob Darbelnet in a statement. "We now understand that current shortcomings in these products, indented as safety features, may unintentionally cause greater levels of cognitive distraction."
Researchers found that everything from voice dialing to changing radio stations is distracting.
The results "suggest that developers can improve the safety of their products by making them less complicated, more accurate and generally easier to use," according to a statement.
To demonstrate how distracting hands-free technology can be, Young Drivers of Canada general manager Angelo DiCicco went on a road test with CTV Toronto while attempting to use a voice-dialing system. He attempted to make a phone call during the ride, but quickly learned how frustrating the supposedly easy-to-use telephone system could be after it took several minutes to make one call.
"That was so aggravating," DiCicco said. "Voice-operated systems, if they're done well, are pretty intuitive and easy to understand. The ones that aren't are awful."
In the study, researchers hooked 162 university student and other volunteers to heart-rate monitors and other equipment to measure reaction times. Participants were tested in a lab, a driving simulator and drove in a neighbourhood.
Cognitive Distraction - Full Video from AAA Public Affairs on Vimeo.
