A new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that infotainment centers included in the dashboards of our cars are causing high levels of distracted driving.
A new study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that infotainment centers included in the dashboards of our cars are causing more distracted driving.
The AAA study found that the technology built into the car including voice or touch screen navigation can distract drivers from the road for more than 40 seconds.
Out of the 30 new 2017 models that were tested, 2/3 of them had built-in technology systems that were rated as "highly" distracting.
Here in Connecticut, AAA found men admitted to being distracted far more often than women, and men tend to use technology more often for directions than women.
And you may not even realize how distracted you are, even if you feel you're a safe driver.
When driving at 25 miles per hour, you can travel the length of four football fields during the time it could take to enter a destination into the navigation system.
Out of the 30 cars tested, none of them received an acceptable score, meaning, all of the systems demanded the driver's attention away from the road for an extensive amount of time.
The tested cars and their demand levels on drivers’ attention are as follows. are as follows:
- Audi Q7 QPP – Very High Demand
- Cadillac XT5 – High Demand
- Chevrolet Equinox LT – Moderate Demand
- Chevrolet Traverse LT – High Demand
- Dodge Durango GT – Very High Demand
- Dodge Ram 1500 – High Demand
- Ford F250 XLT – Moderate Demand
- Ford Fusion Titanium – High Demand
- Ford Mustang GT – Very High Demand
- GMC Yukon SLT – Very High Demand
- Honda Civic Touring – Very High Demand
- Honda Ridgeline RTL-E – Very High Demand
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport – Moderate Demand
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport – High Demand
- Hyundai Sonata Base – High Demand
- Infiniti Q50 Premium – High Demand
- Jeep Compass Sport – High Demand
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited – High Demand
- Kia Sorento LX – High Demand
- Lincoln MKC Premiere – Moderate Demand
- Mazda3 Touring – Very High Demand
- Nissan Armada SV – Very High Demand
- Nissan Maxima SV - High Demand
- Subaru Crosstrek Premium – Very High Demand
- Tesla Model S – Very High Demand
- Toyota Camry SE – Moderate Demand
- Toyota Corolla SE – Moderate Demand
- Toyota Rav 4 XLE – High Demand
- Toyota Sienna XLE – Moderate Demand
- Volvo XC60 T5 Inscription – Very High Demand
To read the full report on each vehicle, click here.
