Even though Gen Y through Boomers want connected cars, the National Safety Council today warned of the dangers of too much infotainment going on while driving and support initiatives by car companies and after market manufacturers to limit infotainment functionality when requested by the driver and or parents.National Safety Council Senior Director of Transportation Initiatives David Teater spoke at Over-Connected and Behind the Wheel: A Summit on Technological Solutions to Distracted Driving.
NSC believes that voice activated infotainment receiver head unit systems create unnecessary distractions for drivers such as the ability to make phone calls, send and receive text messages and emails, and use social media. NSC reported that research has shown voice-to-text infotainment features are dangerous.
NSC does not want to normalize the over use of distraction from infotainment services. Car crashes cause of death for a large portion of the U.S. population, killing as many as 100 people a day. Nearly 90% of th crashes are caused by driver error and inattention.
The NSC does not condone the use of infotainment but wants them to be used at the right time and place.
They report that driving a vehicle is not the right time or place to do anything not related to driving. The NSC urges the auto industry to limit the use of infotainment systems by drivers.
Auto device makers already do lot allow video to be seen by drivers while a vehicle is in motion.
NSC wants to limit drivers use of phones and internet to save live.
NSC encourages automakers to work toward giving drivers, parents and employers the option of disabling non-driving related functions that are built into vehicles.
NSC also recommends automakers collaborate with the wireless and consumer electronics industries and private technology firms to expedite development and deployment of technology solutions to driver distraction.
Using a cell phone while driving makes it four times as likely that you’ll crash – while using handheld or hands-free devices.