The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found in a recent study aimed at measuring cognitive distraction in automobiles that the latest hands-free technologies prove to be more hazardous than helpful. AAA released their findings June 2013 and it was remarked as, “the most comprehensive study of it’s time to look at the mental distraction of drivers,” (White, 2013). It was discovered that as mental workload of the driver increases:
o Reaction time slows
o Brain function is compromised
o Drivers scan the road less frequently
o Obvious visual cues are missed, such as stop signs and pedestrians
AAA CEO and Foundation President Peter Kissinger stated on record, “Increased mental workload and cognitive distractions can lead to a type of tunnel vision or inattention blindness where motorists don’t see potential hazards right in front of them,” (White, 2013).
Drivers were asked to engaged in common tasks while behind the wheel such as talking on the phone (both handheld and hands-free), listening to music/audio books, and responding to voice-activated emails. After the series of audio and visual tests were performed, levels of mental distraction were ranked on a scale 1-3 (minimal to greatest). Passive audio tasks such as listening to the radio ranked “1”. Talking on the phone ranked “2”. And, engagement with voice-activated technologies ranked highest at “3”.
Running with a “Hands-Free is Not Risk-Free” initiative, AAA is using their findings to promote dialogue with the automotive/ electronic industries and policy makers. The major aim is to educate the public about proper safety precaution when using mobile devices and in-vehicle technologies. The foundation is also hoping to explore limiting the use of voice-activated technology to core driving-related activities (climate control, windshield wipers, cruise control, etc.) and disabling certain functionalities of voice-to-text technologies such as using social media or interacting with e-mail and text messages so that they are inoperable while the vehicle is in motion. In concluding about the aims of the study, AAA President Robert L. Darbelnet says, “…these increasingly common voice-driven, in-vehicle technologies should be limited to use for just core driving tasks unless the activity results in no significant driver distraction.”
o Reaction time slows
o Brain function is compromised
o Drivers scan the road less frequently
o Obvious visual cues are missed, such as stop signs and pedestrians
AAA CEO and Foundation President Peter Kissinger stated on record, “Increased mental workload and cognitive distractions can lead to a type of tunnel vision or inattention blindness where motorists don’t see potential hazards right in front of them,” (White, 2013).
Drivers were asked to engaged in common tasks while behind the wheel such as talking on the phone (both handheld and hands-free), listening to music/audio books, and responding to voice-activated emails. After the series of audio and visual tests were performed, levels of mental distraction were ranked on a scale 1-3 (minimal to greatest). Passive audio tasks such as listening to the radio ranked “1”. Talking on the phone ranked “2”. And, engagement with voice-activated technologies ranked highest at “3”.
Running with a “Hands-Free is Not Risk-Free” initiative, AAA is using their findings to promote dialogue with the automotive/ electronic industries and policy makers. The major aim is to educate the public about proper safety precaution when using mobile devices and in-vehicle technologies. The foundation is also hoping to explore limiting the use of voice-activated technology to core driving-related activities (climate control, windshield wipers, cruise control, etc.) and disabling certain functionalities of voice-to-text technologies such as using social media or interacting with e-mail and text messages so that they are inoperable while the vehicle is in motion. In concluding about the aims of the study, AAA President Robert L. Darbelnet says, “…these increasingly common voice-driven, in-vehicle technologies should be limited to use for just core driving tasks unless the activity results in no significant driver distraction.”