Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both hold promise to reduce distracted driving when they both rolled out. However, it appears these technologies cause more distractions while on the road, according to one study.
Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are able to mirror features from our phones onto the infotainment screen so that drivers won't have to reach for their smartphones while driving. According to a new study from UK's IAM Roadsmart, however, drivers relying on mirroring systems in cars showed slower reaction times than those using cannabis. Moreover, these drivers' reaction times were five times slower than those driving with the legal limit of alcohol in their system.
The experiment involved 46 drivers altogether. Participants made to drive using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay took their eyes off the road for as long as 16 seconds, during which time they were tinkering with the infotainment controls.
The study also grouped drivers into those that only used touchscreen controls versus drivers that use only voice commands. The voice command group performed better, but overall findings suggest that both systems are still distracting.
What should be noted, however, is that drivers were aware they were distracted and showed signs they were modifying their driving behavior. This caused some drivers to go slower but some still failed to follow a safe distance from the car ahead. Those who participated also had a hard time keeping the car centered in lane while operating the systems, especially when using touch control.
The tasks assigned to participants weren't particularly difficult either. Some tasks include making a phone call, reacting to a received text message, navigate to a gas station, and playing a song on Spotify.
Even with all of the safety measures taken so far, distracted driving is still the leading cause of car accidents in the U.S.
"It takes about five seconds, on average, to read or send a text," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported. "Not a lot of time. But, in that span of time, with your eyes on your phone and not on the road, a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour can travel the length of a football field."
While it is true that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were designed for the convenience of many drivers, what's truer is that being on the road requires your full attention. A lesson to all drivers is to prioritize driving more than any system in the world for the safety of everybody.
