Because of the huge push to stop drivers from texting or talking on their cell phones while driving, most of us believe those are the most distracting—and the most dangerous behaviors performed by drivers. A new study puts a different spin on distracted driving, with a conclusion that in-vehicle technology may be even more dangerous than cell phone use—not that cell phone use is not still considered extremely dangerous while you are driving. The study looked at thirty different new (2017) vehicles, finding that twelve of them allowed drivers to program directions while operating the car.
Further, it took drivers an average of 40 seconds to program the navigation system which is the length of four football fields at a speed of 25 mph. Imagine if you are whizzing down the freeway at 70 miles an hour, and you take your attention away from the road for a full 40 seconds. The 120 drivers in the study ranged from ages 21 to 36; younger drivers were used in the study under the assumption those drivers were more comfortable with the technology in vehicles. So, if you’re wondering which cars are the most distracting, here’s the list:
Coming in as the second-highest in the “most distracting” category were:
Further Reading: Colorado’s Vision Zero Traffic Fatality Plan
Not only do the “infotainment” systems built into these cars provide access to a navigation system, some of them also provide access to information, entertainment, music and traffic conditions, and some can link to smartphones to make phone calls and send text messages. Professor David L. Strayer from the psychology department of the University of Utah believes car manufacturers should give considerably more thought to the types of interactions drivers can access while the car is in motion. The problem seems to lie in the fact that most drivers believe if a car manufacturer puts a certain technology into a car, it must be safe to use. In other words, if the car infotainment system will allow the driver to use it while driving, it must be safe to do so.
Unfortunately, this is far from true, and in an effort to grab their share of the auto market, automobile manufacturers are putting in more and more technology which simply does not mix with driving. The recommendation, if you have a high-tech car, is to set everything up before you leave, rather than while you are driving. Your eyes belong on the road, and your hands belong on the wheel—otherwise, you stand a fairly good chance of having a potentially serious accident.
While using the navigation system was the most distracting task for drivers, text messaging came in second, and audio entertainment and making phone calls tied as the third-most distracting task to complete while driving. Voice-based and touch-screen technology typically took about 24 seconds for the average person to perform, yet a driver removing his or her eyes from the road for more than two seconds had twice the risk of having a crash, according to previous research done by the NHTSA. Drivers must learn to keep distractions to a minimum, because even one life lost as a result of a distracted driver is one too many.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Lafayette, Broomfield, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, or anywhere in Colorado, the steps you take can make a difference in the amount of compensation you obtain. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we know how to negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and obtain maximum compensation for our clients. We are also experienced and seasoned litigators and are ready and willing to take your case to court if needed. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More