AAA Study Finds That New Infotainment Systems Are Dangerous

Automobiles are more tech-laden than ever and, according to a recent study, those interactive bells and whistles contribute heavily to distracted driving.

With connected cars ready to shoot off assembly lines and into driveways at an accelerated pace, the danger of someone flicking through their dashboard menus when they should be looking at the road is only going to grow. Many states prohibit phone usage while driving, yet there is no law against setting your radio pre-tunes or customizing your digital dashboard while hurtling down the expressway — not that there necessarily should be.

However, the American Automobile Association’s Foundation for Traffic Safety commissioned researchers from the University of Utah to examine the physical and mental demand required to complete various tasks using the infotainment systems in 30 new 2017 vehicles. The conclusion was that the growing cavalcade of buttons, screens, and technology does an incredibly good job at keeping you from minding the road ahead.

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HoustonMidtown - 10/6/2017 11:43:49 AM

+11 Boost

DUH

Vette71 - 10/6/2017 6:33:41 PM

+8 Boost

If the vehicle is moving restrict what can be done on the screen. Jeep UConnect already has that. Plus it has redundant buttons, for example the guidance volume can be adjusted from the steering wheel button.

vdiv - 10/8/2017 2:47:40 PM

-5 Boost

Yeah, I've had a 300C for the past week and the infotainment system including the instrument cluster and UConnect aren't too shabby. Only had to pull the 20A fuse once to powercycle the radio and media hub as it did not like my Android tablet.

vdiv - 10/8/2017 2:37:27 PM

-6 Boost

Has a steering wheel, drive mode lever, and two pedals. What more do you need to drive a fokken car?

TomM - 10/7/2017 6:07:13 AM

+9 Boost

These things are also bad for your health. By the time you actually find the screen you are after - your blood pressure rises 50 points!

vdiv - 10/8/2017 2:42:01 PM

-6 Boost

You sure it's the car, not the 24 oz. steak, mash taters with gravy, and 3,000 cal. slice of artery clogger, aka cheesecake? ;)

Actually, I agree with you, they should take the screen out too.

vdiv - 10/8/2017 2:35:19 PM

-7 Boost

Hey BobM, whatever happened to dinosaurs?

vdiv - 10/8/2017 2:43:30 PM

-5 Boost

Have there been any yet?