In-car infotainment systems slow reaction times more than drink and drugs
The latest car infotainment systems slow reaction times behind the wheel more than alcohol and cannabis use, according to a new study.
Road safety charity I AM Roadsmart compared driver behaviour with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and no system use on a simulated route.
Tests found that reaction times when using the infotainment systems were five times slower than a person driving at the legal alcohol limit, and significantly slower than someone who had used cannabis.
Stopping distances at motorway speeds increased by 4-5 car lengths, and drivers even took their eyes off the road for up to 16 seconds at a time – the equivalent of travelling for more than 500 metres at 70mph.
Cheaper than AA Price Promise^
- Roadside cover from £5.29 a month*
- We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
- Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
*At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Roadside (Basic). ^T&Cs apply.
Although drivers slowed their vehicles when using the systems, their ability to maintain a safe distance from the car in front suffered significantly.
They were even found to react more than 50% slower to hazards on the road ahead when engaging with the in-car entertainment controls.
Lane position was also affected as motorists deviated by 0.53 metres when performing navigation tasks with Android Auto, and 0.50 metres using Apple CarPlay.
Reaction times when using touch controls rather than voice control were found to be worse than texting while driving.
- Mobile phone driving laws - what is and isn't illegal?
- Drink driving limits - everything you need to know
- Reporting dangerous driving: how to recognise and report dangerous driving
- More motoring news
Neil Greig, policy and research director at IAM RoadSmart, said: “While previous research indicates that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto perform better than more traditional buttons and controls, the results from this latest study raise some serious concerns…
“Anything that distracts a driver’s eyes or mind from the road is bad news for road safety.”
Using a phone behind the wheel can land you with six points and a £200 fine, while you could be charged with ‘driving without due care and attention’ when using an infotainment system – a charge that results in a £100 fine and three penalty points.
Devices that distract drivers’ attention from the road are linked to up to 30% of road collisions in Europe ever year.
Interestingly, participants underestimated the time they thought they spent looking away from the road by as much as five seconds.
Mr Greig said:“We’re now calling on industry and government to openly test and approve such systems and develop consistent standards that genuinely help minimise driver distraction.”
Is it illegal to drive without shoes?
Get the answer and more useful driving content sent straight to your inbox.
You might also like
.jpg%3Fwidth%3D500%26quality%3D100%26crop%3D16%253A9%26gravity%3Dcenter&w=1920&q=75)
Car dashboard symbols and meanings – warning lights guide
What do the car warning lights and symbols on your dashboard mean? Why do they come on? How urgent is the problem? And what you should do when you see them?
Coronavirus: how might it impact me as a traveller?
Find out your rights as a traveller and how your travel plans could be affected by the coronavirus outbreak and various quarantines. Read more here with RAC.
Cleaner, greener fuel to hit UK forecourts from next year – but will it make a difference?
E10 fuel to become the standard grade at forecourts across the country
Parking guide: where you can and can't park
To avoid a parking nightmare and the fines that go along with it, read our simple guide to where you can and can't park.
What is E10 fuel and how will it affect you?
E10 fuel is set to become the standard grade at forecourts across the UK. But what exactly is it and what do you need to know about its launch?
Popular in News
1
Car buyers to save thousands as EV grant returns
2
Private parking companies issue a record 14.4m tickets to drivers in a single year
3
Drivers fined £1m from just 36 yellow box junctions in 2024
4
Road deaths on the rise in Great Britain
5
Private parking industry urged to publish ‘full and transparent’ complaints and appeals data
6
Drivers now able to search for new home that comes with EV chargers
7
Leicester’s Sean Kimberlin named as RAC Mobile Mechanic of the Year
8
Number of drivers caught using unroadworthy vehicles jumps by 52% in a year
9
Warning to drivers across the UK over fake parking apps
10