Bigger doesn’t mean better when it comes to the screens in your car. While car manufacturers charge a premium for large, flashy touchscreens and infotainment systems, the truth is that these modern features are linked with increases in distracted driving. In Georgia, any activity that diverts a driver’s attention is considered distracted driving, an infotainment screen in your vehicle could be a huge liability.
Why Are Touchscreens and Infotainment Systems in Cars Distracting?
Large screens positioned within a driver’s view take the driver’s attention away from the road. While that’s the simple answer, the more complex answer is that screens require longer glances compared to traditional buttons or knobs. With each second a driver spends with their eyes on a screen, reaction times slow. The wide range of settings available with modern navigation, entertainment, and climate-control features can cause drivers to spend more time with their eyes off the road while “cycling through” options.
There’s also a mental workload that goes into using screens for vehicle navigation and operation. Digital controls and settings may not be as intuitive or easy to remember as traditional knobs and buttons. The sheer effort involved with interacting with a complex digital system also requires more brainpower while behind the wheel. Finally, issues like glare from sunlight, less-than-ideal brightness settings, and the distraction that comes from screens when driving at night can all disorient a driver.
What the Research Says About Touchscreens and Safety
In 2023, a group of automotive journalists tested the “distraction factors” of infotainment functions inside new cars models compared to a 2005 model lacking technological bells and whistles. While manufacturers claim that infotainment systems are safer compared to cluttered, disjointed knobs and buttons, the study found otherwise. During the study, drivers were given instructions to drive at 68 miles per hour while performing a range of tasks that included changing the radio station, adjusting the cabin temperature, and resetting the GPS. Surprisingly, the older-model car free of modern screens allowed drivers to complete tasks in a fraction of the time compared to the “fancier” cars. Ultimately, the study shows that operating high-tech screens in cars may actually take up more time and effort. For drivers, the result of shifting attention to managing screens is distracted driving.
Many safety experts agree that screens in cars pose serious distraction risks. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, research shows that voice-based and touchscreen features in vehicles cause drivers to be distracted for more than 40 seconds. Additionally, a study of 30 vehicle infotainment systems found that 23 of them placed high levels of demand on drivers.
How to Reduce the Risks for Distracted Driving with Large Touchscreens and Infotainment Systems
Going back to horse and buggy isn’t the only way to stay free of distractions while driving. Being mindful of the distractions caused by screens while driving is the first step. Here are some tips:
- To reduce the amount of time needed with your eyes off the road, spend time becoming familiar with your car’s digital settings before driving. While parked, spend time memorizing how to adjust frequently used settings like temperature control, GPS, and radio.
- When possible, make use of voice settings that will allow you to control specific features and settings using a truly hands-free, distraction-free option.
- Additionally, it’s important to confirm that brightness levels are ideal before hitting the road.
- Finally, keep your windshield clean and free of streaks to reduce risks for glare or low visibility during nighttime driving.
These same tips should apply whether you’re driving your own car or using a rental car that’s unfamiliar to you. Of course, it’s also important to avoid compounding distractions with your own cell phone. Make sure that any syncing of your phone that needs to be done with your car’s digital system is done before you begin driving.