The hands-free mobile technologies in your car that are designed to help drivers use their devices safely at the wheel, may actually be dangerous. Researchers found that many drivers became distracted by poor service and misunderstood commands of the hands-free car systems.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. and the University of Utah conducted two studies. In one, they looked at infotainment systems in popular car brands, including Toyota, Mercedes, Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler, and Hyundai. In the other, they examined Apple’s Siri voice system to send texts, navigate, make social media posts, and update the calendar without handling or looking at the phone. The systems were tested by 162 participants in three settings: laboratory, driving simulator, and driving through a Salt Lake City neighborhood.
The systems were graded on a scale of one to five, with one representing no distraction at all and five being akin to doing complex math problems and word memorization.
Siri got the worst grade with a 4.14 score. Two participants in the driving simulator rear-ended another car while using Siri. Chevrolet’s MyLink system also did poorly, scoring a 3.7. Toyota’s Entune program earned the most favorable marks with a 1.7 score, with Hyundai’s Blue Link system not far behind with a 2.2.
Apple noted in a statement that the study did not use their CarPlay or Siri Eyes Free applications, which are created for use in cars. However, the authors of the study contend that they consulted with Apple prior to the study.
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The systems that did poorly were those that made errors even when the driver’s requests were clear and distinct. Drivers had to focus on the words they chose and the order in which they said them in order for their commands to be followed, causing a lot of frustration. For example, asking to change the station to “103.5 FM” would grant your wish, but not “103.5″ or “FM 103.5.” Siri would mix up text messages or call the wrong number from the contact list.
“When these systems become more complex, like sending text messages or posting to Facebook, it pushes the workloads to pretty high levels and may be dangerous while driving,” said Professor David Strayer, the University of Utah psychology professor who led the two studies.
These complications contradict carmakers’ claims that these systems will help drivers to enjoy their devices safely and easily. In fact, the process can be quite dangerous and more distracting than simply making a phone call.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates vehicle safety, has issued guidelines to automakers for dashboard systems and is developing similar guidelines for phone and voice-activated systems, but they are only voluntary.
“What we continue to see from customers is that they demand this level of technology in their vehicles, that access to music and access to calls is now a critical part of the driving experience and so we’re looking at innovative ways to provide that,’ said Chevrolet spokeswoman Annalisa Bluhm.