I've got an extensive system in my car with all sorts of satnav and entertainment options accessible on a fairly large screen. They definitely are distracting and I noticed my concentration levels dropped with all the glancing and pressing while driving. I can well believe the underestimation of time distracted from watching where you're going. Unless there's some legislation that drastically limits the functions available to the driver, the only answer is to recognise your responsibility when driving a ton or more of vehicle along with other road users, including bikes, and pedestrians. I'm more conscious of using the system now and wait until it's safer to look away for a couple of seconds. Putting on the next album is not the priority.
I can believe it and it I think they are dangerous. I took a new citroen for a test drive and all heating controls etc were via a touch screen. There were no manual dials etc, I couldn't believe, it is just so distracting. I didn't buy but went for a car that has all the normal dials and buttons without a touch screen.
what was wrong with having the controls on the steering wheel as my wife's Renault both hands on the wheel and audio, cruise control and such where all to hand,
I've got controls on the steerign wheel for some things - volume, phone, driving modes etc. - but a lot of controls are on-screen and short of having an F1-style steering wheel, it probably wouldn't be practical. On the positive side for safety, the display goes blank if you're watching a DVD at over 5mph.
Personally i think its down to what seems like everybody's obsession with not missing texts or alerts....if it was just down to talking hand's free or using voice control we may as well impose a no talking clause when carrying passengers.
I recall having a very similar discussion with a smoker about 20 years ago who claimed he could reach for a pack, extract a coffin nail, put the pack away, find his lighter, get the disgusting thing going and put the lighter away all without any distraction while he was driving. Everyone else called bull-plops, but he was not having it. My Ford's infotainment is probably the same unit as DD's and I don't know if I have it set that way somehow but it tells me off if I (or more usually my passenger) makes adjustments when I'm moving. It's not difficult to set your nav before you get going or to stop and re-set if needed so that's what I tend to do.
I don't use the apple interface for the very reasons identified in the article. There are enough standard buttons and options to distract without the additional functions from apple.
