Our cars are becoming more and more technologically advanced. Today we don’t just have car radios, we have whole multimedia systems preinstalled with a larger and larger screen. We have navigational tools to help us to get from place to place, and car information and controls at our fingertips. Our smartphones with all their applications add to cacophony in the cockpit. Do these functions add to our driving experience or distract us from our driving?
There is no question that certain technological advances have made driving cars a lot safer. Whilst self-driving cars, that will negate driver error, are still in their infancy, self-braking cars and cars equipped with warning systems are helping the driver to react to hazards that they may not have otherwise noticed. People generally do not want their car rebuking them with a beep and so they keep in their lanes more and keep their distance from the car in front.
Navigation instruments are often preinstalled in the car’s multimedia center, if not people run them through their smartphone. These can really assist the driver to find his way effortlessly. They do not need to try to map read when driving and prevent them from getting lost and driving erratically as a result. It will also tell them which route is optimal based on traffic conditions, which helps to slightly alleviate the congestion on roads. However, many driver’s feel the need to interact with the system whilst they are driving. This obviously is a distraction as it takes their eyes momentarily off the road.
Multimedia systems can entertain the driver and stop them from becoming bored. “Listening to music could be […] a preventive measure in favor of cardiovascular health in situations of intense stress, such as driving during rush hour.” Prof. Vitor Engrácia Valenti. However, other research concludes that listening to the wrong music, such as fast tempoed or aggressive music can influence the driving style negatively. The main safety issue of the multimedia system is that it can be a distraction as the driver tries to interact with it, for instance to find the music track they want. The obvious solution to this is to set it up before embarking on the journey and stick to it.
There are many smartphone applications that help a person to connect. Most are messaging apps. Many people are addicted to them and find it difficult not to investigate the new message as it comes in or to respond to it. Not only is this illegal but it is highly dangerous as it takes the drivers eyes and mind off of the road. The best solution, where possible, is to turn off the phone when driving or use an application that mutes it whilst driving.
Most technology has the ability to enhance and even make driving safer. However, some technology can be a distraction. The level of distraction is dependent on the character of the person driving the car, but technology, when used incorrectly can be lethal.
