AAA: Hands-Free Driving is Not Risk Free

Provided by AAA:

Hands-free is still dangerous, says a new AAA study of voice-activated vehicle technology that allows motorists to text, talk on the phone, or use Facebook while they drive.  Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows risky mental distractions exist even when drivers keep their hands on the wheel.  The study measured brainwaves, eye movement and more, showing drivers scan the road less and miss visual cues, sometimes not even seeing stop signs and pedestrians right in front of them.

This is the most comprehensive study of its kind to look at distracted driving. With a predicted five-fold increase in infotainment systems in new vehicles by 2018, AAA is calling for action as result of this landmark research, and asks the public to not use these voice-to-text features while their vehicle is in motion. “There is a looming public safety crisis ahead with the growth of these in-vehicle technologies,” said Jenny M. Robinson, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.  “It’s time to consider limiting potentially dangerous mental distractions built into cars.  Hands-free is not risk-free, because your brain is still distracted.”

Researchers rated levels of mental distraction drivers experienced while performing various tasks. Similar to the Saffir-Simpson scale used for hurricanes, the levels of mental distraction are represented on a scale.

LEVEL 1: Mild Danger.  Tasks such as listening to the radio.
LEVEL 2: Moderate Danger.  Talking on a cell phone, both handheld and hands-free.
LEVEL 3: High Danger.  Listening and responding to in-vehicle, voice-activated email and social networking.  These activities greatly increased mental distraction levels.

Cognitive distraction expert Dr. David Strayer and his research team at the University of Utah measured brainwaves, eye movement and other metrics to assess what happens to drivers’ mental workload when they attempt to do multiple things at once, building upon decades of research in the aerospace and automotive industries. The research included:

•   Cameras mounted inside an instrumented car to track eye and head movement of drivers.
•     A Detection-Response-Task device known as the “DRT” was used to record driver reaction time in response to triggers of red and green lights added to their field of vision.
•     A special electroencephalographic (EEG)-configured skull cap was used to chart participants’ brain activity so that researchers could determine mental workload.

Using established research protocols borrowed from aviation psychology and a variety of performance metrics, drivers engaged in common tasks, from listening to an audio book or talking on the phone to listening and responding to voice-activated emails while behind the wheel.

“These findings reinforce previous research that hands-free is not risk-free,” said Robinson. “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.”

Based on this research, AAA urges the automotive and electronics industries to join in exploring:

• Limiting use of voice-activated technology to core driving-related activities such as climate control, windshield wipers and cruise control, and to ensure these applications do not lead to increased safety risk due to mental distraction while the car is moving.
• 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.
• Educating vehicle owners and mobile device users about the responsible use and safety risks for in-vehicle technologies.

AAA also is using the findings to promote dialogue with policy makers, safety advocates and industry to ensure that these emerging in-vehicle technologies won’t lead to unintentional compromises in public safety.  As part of this effort, AAA has already met with safety advocates and provided copies of the report to CEOs of all major U.S. automakers.
“AAA is hopeful this research will serve as a stepping stone toward working in collaboration with automakers to promote our shared goal of improving safety for all drivers,” said Robinson. “Specifically, 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.”

To view the full Cognitive Distraction in the Vehicle report, the AAA Foundation’s Research Compendium on Cognitive Distraction or AAA’s Distracted Driving Fact Sheet, visit NewsRoom.AAA.com

Locally, Pennsylvania’s law against texting while driving took effect March 8,, 2012 and is a primary offense with a $50 fine.  AAA has long been at the forefront of the distracted driving issue, with a national campaign to pass texting bans in all 50 states.

Pennsylvania crash statistics show a small decline in distracted driving fatalities for 2012.  According to preliminary numbers from the state, there were 57 deaths in distracted driver crashes last year, compared to 59 deaths in 2011 and 66 fatalities in 2010.