The Distraction Epidemic: Are Car Tech Features Making Roads More Dangerous?
Had the crash video not been so terrifying, it might have passed for low comedy.
A white pickup truck slammed into a California Highway Patrol cruiser parked at a prior accident scene. The driver told officers he had been watching YouTube videos on his phone and didn’t see the flares or the stationary patrol car. He didn’t even glimpse the officer waving a strobe flashlight, and had to jump out of the way when the truck barreled in.
The Rise of In-Car Distraction
The March 3 incident on Highway 101 in Redwood City illustrated a form of driver misbehavior that’s becoming more common as screens become normalized in cars. Motorists habitually pick up their phones while sitting in traffic, or scroll dashboard touchscreens while cruising at 65 miles per hour. People have their eyes glued to navigation apps instead of the road.
“We see people reading, watching videos, watching a football game,” said CHP officer Sophie Lu, a spokesperson for the Redwood City division. She posted body-worn camera video of the incident on social media, warning other drivers to “stay focused behind the wheel.”
A Paradox of Safety
Transportation experts worry that advisories are no match for a screen-addicted culture. Many point to a paradox: Cars are theoretically getting safer, equipped with features like lane-keeping, emergency braking, rearview cameras, and collision warnings. But these gains come with a downside. People are over-relying on the technology, and even succumbing to the illusion that the car is driving, said Scott Moura, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley.
Automakers are catering to this compulsion. Many cars have TV-style monitors on their dashboards, mixing entertainment and functionality. Motorists swipe touchscreens to activate turn signals or set the vehicle in reverse, but similarly to change the music, find faster routes, or answer a text. Cellphone mounts allow people to access their mobile devices at all times. Last year, a wireless adapter hit the market that ports YouTube and Netflix onto car screens.
The Data on Distraction
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 40,000 people die each year on U.S. Roads, increasing to nearly 43,000 in 2021 — a 16-year high. Distracted drivers caused 3,275 fatal crashes in 2023, with 369 specifically linked to cellphones.
Negligence can lead to tragedy. Last week, a woman in Redding plowed her truck through a red light while using FaceTime, striking another vehicle and causing fatal injuries.
A Shift Back to Simplicity?
As motorists become more fixated on their devices, some automakers are bucking the trend. Volkswagen and Subaru have shifted away from “infotainment” screens, opting for buttons and knobs in new models. Patents filed by Rivian suggest their next line of SUVs and trucks might include traditional-fashioned dials below a touchscreen.
“There is a movement in the industry to revert back to knobs,” said Professor Daniel Sperling, founding director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis. “A lot of consumers prefer physical controls and consider them safer.”
One study from 2020 compared drivers impaired in different ways – by cannabis, alcohol, handheld devices, or touchscreen interactions. Touchscreen users had the slowest reaction times and the worst driving performance.
“We’ve all had the lived experience of using a screen and trying to turn on the radio,” Sperling said. “Never mind the air conditioning, the climate control, the navigation and all the other functions. I think it’s pretty widely accepted that distraction has become a greater cause of crashes than before.”
The Illusion of Automation
Moura’s research shows motorists tend to be “binary” about automation – either wanting complete control or relinquishing all responsibility. Cars in the “gray area” produce cognitive dissonance, leading to accidents.
“A lot of people have this mentality of, ‘Either I’m driving, or (the car) is driving, and I don’t want to manage with this middle ground,” Moura said.
He suggests that for those who simply want to get from Point A to Point B without the responsibility of driving, there’s already a solution: a bus.
FAQ
Q: Is using a touchscreen in a car illegal?
A: California law prohibits videos on screens visible to a driver in a moving car.
Q: Are newer cars actually safer?
A: While equipped with more safety features, the increased distraction from technology can negate those benefits.
Q: What are automakers doing to address distraction?
A: Some are reverting to physical buttons and dials instead of relying solely on touchscreens.
Did you recognize? Drivers using touchscreens have slower reaction times than those impaired by alcohol or cannabis.
Pro Tip: Before starting your drive, set your navigation and music to minimize the need to interact with the touchscreen while on the road.
What are your thoughts on in-car technology and driver safety? Share your experiences in the comments below!
