Early motor vehicles were simple machines. They had very few controls, allowing drivers to concentrate on the road. The average modern car comes with a set of controls more akin to something a sci-fi writer might have dreamed up for a spaceship.
All these buttons, dials and screens can do a lot to improve the driving experience. Yet there is a point where those features can threaten safety because of how much attention they can occupy.
A choice of listening
There was once a time when drivers set their dial to their favorite radio station or pushed in a cassette which would entertain them for the next half hour or more. These days, people are more likely to flick between tracks on Spotify or a similar service, perhaps only listening to a few seconds of each track to find one they like. Maybe they type in the name of a track they want, All this means their hand, eyes and brain will not be used for driving as fully as they should be.
Route planning on the go
You once saw people with a set of handwritten instructions taped to their dashboard to guide them to their destination. They’d have worked out their route before setting off. Most people now just program their GPS. However, even if they do this before leaving, which many don’t, the accompanying screens vie for a driver’s attention throughout the trip. While it can certainly be useful to have your GPS inform you of heavy traffic ahead or suggest a faster alternative, you lose vital seconds of attention to these alerts.
Increasing comfort
The ability to rapidly heat up or cool your vehicle can be most welcome, but it can lead to distraction. A driver might now adjust the temperature for specific parts of the vehicle to cater to the demands of their passengers, as well as adjust a heated seat and steering wheel – all while on the move. Once again, those adjustments could distract them enough to cause a collision.
It’s a scary reality that most drivers get distracted. Thus, it is always worth determining whether a driver in a crash was distracted at the time. Having experienced legal guidance can help you seek fair compensation from an at-fault driver.