Driven To Distraction

In-car technology

Are in-car gadgets a hazard to safe driving?

A host of online motoring websites are urging car manufacturers to go back to basics after a recent survey suggested UK drivers are being driven to distraction by car gadgets.

The poll of UK motorists canvassed attitudes towards 21st century driving distractions and highlighted that more than half would like to see fewer ‘non-essential’ features in cars to help avoid confusion. Over 70 per cent felt they would feel safer if they had fewer accessories in their motors.

In-car add-ons were cited as bigger distractions than noisy passengers, convoluted road signs and even the family dog.

Fiddling with the sat nav was deemed the biggest driving danger by car drivers, with almost a third voting it a major driving distraction. Using intricate in-car music gadgets such as iPods and CD players followed hot on the heels for one in five drivers, while over enthusiastic sat nav voices were a cause for confusion for 23 per cent.

Fussy steering wheel control buttons and piercing parking sensors were also cited as the ultimate concentration crushers.

Smoking came in top for non car related distractions nominated by drivers with 23 per cent while eating and drinking, children and pets followed on.

The research suggests many modern cars are filled with gadgets and gizmos that are not only confusing but also a major cause for distraction to drivers and those on the road around them.

Motors.co.uk, the company behind the findings, are now urging manufacturers to go back to basics and consider the safety of drivers and how they use add-ons, with the emphasis being placed on not losing concentration.

According to Motors.co.uk the top in-car gadgets we do cherish are:

Parking sensors – particularly the ones that give you ample warning that you’re getting too close, such as those on a Land Rover Discovery.
Simple sat navs – the easy to use sat navs, such as the one installed in the new Honda Jazz which is beautifully simple and easy to use.
Cars that turn off at traffic lights – whenever you slip the gears into neutral and let out the clutch, as in the Mini and the new BMW 1 Series, the automatic stop-start function further cuts fuel consumption. To restart the driver only needs to ‘dip’ the clutch again before pulling away in the normal manner.

And the gadgets we loathe:

Touch-screen controls – cars with touch-screen controls make it too easy to hit the wrong button while on the move. Audis, VWs and some Jaguars feature this technology.
Car locks – cars that’ll let you lock your keys inside are equally frustrating. This can be particularly distressing for parents if young children are trapped.
Cruise control – great if you’re on a long, high-speed journey across Italy, Germany or France, but pointless on the UK’s busy roads. Fitted to innumerable executive-class saloons, MPVs and off-roaders yet never used.

What's the most distracting feature in your car? Do you cherish or loathe the gadgets in your car? What's your favourite in-car gadget? What can car manufacturers do to improve their in-car technology?

Let us know by leaving a comment in the box below. Alternatively,share your thoughts with other readers in the 50connect forums.