“Hey Siri, crash my car.”
While these are not words you’re likely to hear, U researchers believe it’s what drivers are asking for when they interact with electronic systems in their car. Their study found that using in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) while driving dramatically increases the amount of distracting thoughts in someone’s mind, pulling attention away from the road.
Despite many vehicles having voice commands for driver safety, evidence indicates that these hands-free devices don’t translate to danger-free.
“The most interesting finding from the study was that driver distraction can linger or persist long after drivers had quit the distracting task,” said Joel Cooper, a professor of psychology.
Findings showed distraction could last up to 27 seconds after disengaging from an IVIS or phone. Studies also indicated that older drivers are significantly more distracted by the systems than younger drivers.
Cooper co-authored the study with senior author David Strayer and several other U researchers. The group conducted two separate studies on IVIS and smartphones for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a not-for-profit research and education organization. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 30,057 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2013.
“Really, what we’re interested in is reducing fatalities,” Cooper said.
Vylia Omar, a freshman in a medical lab science, appreciates the effort to save lives. She admits to using a phone in her car to play music and call people.
“People get hurt, people die because they can’t not use their phone,” Omar said.
The study examined the effect of using voice commands to call contacts, dial phone numbers, change the music and perform other simple operations. The drivers participating in the research were not required to look away from the road or take their hands off the wheel to perform these tasks.
Previous research conducted by the U for the AAA Foundation established a five-point rating system, where one is the minimum level of distraction and five the maximum. A five would be equivalent to simultaneously performing a math and memorization task. Listening to the radio receives a 1.2 rating, and a hands-free phone conversation ranks in at 2.3. The AAA considers anything above a two to be potentially hazardous.
The survey found a wide range of distraction among various systems in different cars. The MyLink system in a Chevy Equinox ranked as the least distracting at 2.37, while the Connect system in a Mazda 6 ranked the worst at 4.57. Ten different 2015 vehicles were used in the study.
Phone system rankings spanned a more narrow range. Google Now received a 3.0 rating, Apple’s Siri a 3.4 and Microsoft’s Cortana a 3.8.
Studies were conducted in Salt Lake City’s avenues. Participants drove a 2.7-mile suburban loop at the speed limit of 25 mph. All participants were given time to familiarize themselves with the systems they would be using. Participants in the IVIS studies took the research vehicle home for a week, with evaluations before and after. Participants ranged in age from 21 to 70.
This study is the third phase in ongoing research for the AAA Foundation. The first and second phases established the scale and sources of mental distraction. Researchers hope vehicle manufacturers will use the information to evaluate their current systems, and the public will be more aware of distracted driving issues.
The reports and additional information can be found at www.aaafoundation.org.
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