#driver distraction

Interact with a human to handle your apps while driving❣️

You may not want to watch this video, but it could save a life from driver distraction.

I’ve written a lot of blogs about driver distraction lately. It’s the season to be jolly, but it’s hectic, busy, stressful and very easy to lose concentration for a brief moment.

I have lost close friends through driver distraction, most of them (not all) were innocent victims, doing everything right, but they are no longer with us.

Christmas Day for our family starts at the cemetery where we…

I’ve been reading a book called ‘Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do’ by Tom Vanderbilt, which resonates very well with me. Now I’m no petrol head, but I still like driving my car and it is still more convenient than public transport in most instances based on where I live and my lifestyle. I also like to consider myself as being green when it comes to looking after our planet and ecology.

So the…

New Post has been published on http://www.brianbrown.net/2014/10/07/car-infotainment-systems-ranked-by-distraction-level-in-study/

Car 'infotainment' systems ranked by distraction level in study

Vehicle voice-activated “infotainment” systems that are complicated or just take longer to navigate create the highest levels of driver distraction and safety risks, according to a new study that ranked six brands installed by automakers.

The study, set to be released Tuesday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, looked at how mentally demanding the six hands-free systems installed in new vehicles were for two basic tasks, phone dialing and changing radio stations.

Toyota’s Entune system received the best distraction rating, which the study likened to listening to an audiobook. The study was conducted with researchers from the University of Utah who used test vehicles, heart-rate monitors on drivers and equipment to measure reaction times in traffic scenarios.

The Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system resulted in the highest distraction level of the six in-vehicle technologies tested, the study found. MyLink imposed mental demands approaching the difficulty of conducting math calculations, the researchers found.

After Entune, Hyundai’s Blue Link system had the second-best distraction rating, followed in increasing distraction levels by the Chrysler Uconnect, the Ford Sync and the Mercedes Command, the study said.

In a meeting with AAA officials to discuss the findings, representatives from Ford raised the concern that the research could spur some people to go back to using hand-held devices while driving, which is prohibited in Illinois and many other states.

In addition, the researchers separately evaluated Apple’s Siri voice-activated digital assistant, using the same criteria to measure a broader range of tasks, including Facebook updates and using Twitter. Siri generated the highest level of distraction, the study found.

“This is especially of concern given Apple’s recent partnerships with (original equipment manufacturers), and drivers carrying Siri-loaded phones into cars,” the study said.

The bottom line is that “not all voice systems are created equal, and today’s imperfect systems can lead to the perfect storm for driver distraction,” said Bob Darbelnet, president and chief executive officer of AAA.

Simple commands that are short in duration were found to be no more demanding on drivers than listening to an audiobook, the study found.

The AAA Foundation advised automakers to invest in systems that minimize the opportunity to compose messages, versus listening to messages.

The research also led to the conclusion that there is little to be gained by improving the quality of synthetic speech that is used by Siri and similar technologies, because both synthetic voices and the natural voices used in audiobooks both generated a moderate level of distraction, the study found.

Any activity that is not directly related to driving, whether it is using electronics or simply eating, represents a potential distraction and safety risk, according to previous research by AAA, the National Safety Council, the National Transportation Safety Board and other safety groups.

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Copyright © 2014, Chicago Tribune

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A five-car accident during rush hour on October 1 killed a Fishers man and injured two others. Michael Peed was hit from behind while sitting in traffic, causing him to hit the vehicle in front of him and veer into the path of a semi-truck, which struck his vehicle. The semi-truck also hit another vehicle before eventually hitting Peed’s car.

Peed was pronounced dead on the scene and two others involved in the pileup were taken to local hospitals with neck and leg injuries. No charges have been filed and an investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Driver distraction is a leading cause of accidents in Indiana, often causing the wrongful death of another motorist. Our accident attorneys will fight for victims and their families when someone has been injured in an accident due to a negligent driver. Contact our Indianapolis injury attorneys today if you or someone you love has been hurt in an Indiana car accident.