Are Car Touchscreens More Dangerous Than Texting Behind the Wheel?

With advancements in car technology, touchscreens have become a common feature in modern vehicles. While these screens offer convenience, they also introduce new distractions. This article explores whether car touchscreens could be more dangerous than texting while driving.

The Rise of Car Touchscreens

Modern vehicles come equipped with increasingly sophisticated infotainment systems, primarily operated through touchscreens. These interfaces control a range of functions including navigation, audio settings, and climate control, making them an integral part of the driving experience.

Understanding Driver Distractions

Driver distractions are categorised into three main types:

• Visual: Taking your eyes off the road.
• Manual: Taking your hands off the wheel.
• Cognitive: Taking your mind off driving.

Both touchscreens and texting engage these types of distractions, potentially compromising driver safety.

Touchscreens vs. Texting: A Comparison

Several studies suggest that using a car touchscreen while driving can be as distracting as texting. Here's a comparison of the two:

Visual Engagement

Touchscreens draw drivers' eyes away from the road, sometimes for prolonged periods, similar to texting.

Manual Involvement

Both activities require at least one hand to operate, diverting it from the steering wheel.

Cognitive Load

Analysing touchscreen menus or composing a text requires significant mental focus, which can detract from attentive driving.

Research Findings

Research indicates that interacting with a touchscreen while driving can be more mentally demanding than texting, due to complex menu structures and the necessity to physically interact with the screen's interface.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drivers' reaction times were slower when using in-vehicle technology compared to when they text behind the wheel.

Safety Recommendations

To mitigate these risks, it is advisable that drivers:

• Set up navigation and entertainment options before starting the vehicle.
• Use voice commands where possible to minimise interaction with the screen.
• Familiarise themselves with the infotainment system's interface to reduce the need for prolonged focus during operation.

Conclusion

While touchscreens contribute significant convenience to modern driving, they present notable risks similar to, or even exceeding, those associated with texting while driving. As car technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to balance these features with safety to ensure that drivers maintain focus on the road.