Are we being driven to distraction ?

DELEGATES attending the 2013 Automotive Forum, organised by the Irish Motoring Writers Association (IMWA) and sponsored by Continental Tyres, were given a glimpse of some of the new and emerging automotive technologies that will soon be a key feature of the cars we drive.

Just imagine your car communicating with the road infrastructure and other road users to warn you about traffic jams or an accident up ahead; then imagine being able to stream music and video material from the internet through your car’s audio-visual system and being able to consult apps from the dashboard that provide information about restaurants, hotels or shopping options on your drive route.

However, what of the distraction potential for drivers who are facing information overload in this brave new world of motoring?

An audience from motoring, road safety and other sectors came together at the RDS to hear two expert international speakers talk about how car technology is changing the role of the driver and how increasing levels of technology in the car can have a detrimental effect on drivers’ attention levels.

Associate Professor at the University of Leeds-based Institute for Transport Studies, Dr Natasha Merat, who specialises in human machine interface (HMI) and driver behaviour highlighted the results of recent studies that have shown that once a driver’s primary attention is diverted by another information input, whether that be a mobile phone or a piece of technology within the car, the risk of an accident increases significantly.

“Without a doubt, technology has contributed hugely to strides in improving road safety over the last number of decades,

? she said.

“But we need to be careful that we don’t undo some of that progress by providing a dangerous level of information overload through the addition of a broad range of attention-grabbing’ technologies inside the car.

“We know that younger, inexperienced drivers are particularly prone to distractions while driving whether they come from in-car distractions or external influences. And for both experienced and inexperienced drivers, the distraction level can increase significantly once other impairments come into play.

?

She added:

“It is important that we realise that the term distraction encompasses more than just the usual suspects.

“Chimes and dashboard displays that warn about low fuel, lane departure warning/brake assist systems and best eco-driving behaviour, can all take their toll on the driver’s attention.

“The challenge for car makers is to ensure that all of these technologies work together to assist with the driving task, rather than distracting the driver’s attention.

?