Drivers remain distracted for nearly half a minute after using voice-controlled tech, study finds

Shawn Knight

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Despite local laws and innovative efforts by both hardware and software makers, distracted driving continues to be a serious concern on our public roadways. Many still believe that hands-free, voice-controlled solutions are the answer but new data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety once again suggests otherwise.

In a study released today, the foundation notes that drivers can remain mentally distracted for up to 27 seconds after dialing a number, sending a text message or changing music using voice commands – all while their hands are on the wheel and their eyes are on the road. That works out to the length of three football fields when traveling at speeds of just 25 MPH.

To reach that conclusion, the foundation tested 257 adults ranging in age from 21 to 70 using 10 different 2015 model year vehicles as well as three different smartphone systems with an additional 65 drivers. Regardless of which hands-free system was used, analysis showed that all of them increased mental distraction to potentially unsafe levels.

Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said the lasting effects of mental distraction mean motorists could miss stop signs, pedestrians and other vehicles as their mind is readjusting to the task of driving.

Self-driving cars will all but eliminate these concerns but the reality is, they’re still many years away from hitting the roads.

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"Many still believe that hands-free, voice-controlled solutions are the answer but new data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety once again suggests otherwise."

I'm getting tired of BS like this. Trying to discredit something when in all reality it is irrelevant. People get distracted by everything around us. This is simply one of many devices that would be of more benefit than harm. More benefit because it doesn't rely on being visibly seen, when your vision needs to be on the road.
 
"Many still believe that hands-free, voice-controlled solutions are the answer but new data from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety once again suggests otherwise."

I'm getting tired of BS like this. Trying to discredit something when in all reality it is irrelevant. People get distracted by everything around us. This is simply one of many devices that would be of more benefit than harm. More benefit because it doesn't rely on being visibly seen, when your vision needs to be on the road.
I agree with your point but I find myself often not concentrating on the road while talking on the blower. Naturally I use a hands free solution but the distraction is sill there nonetheless. I wonder how Sebastian Vettel (and his colleagues) manages to have a conversation with his crew chief all while leading a race, changing gears, braking, accelerating, adjusting diff settings, adjusting fuel mixture settings, having a swig from his drinks bottle, operating DRS, shaving, lighting a fag, waving to a sexy chick in the grandstands etc. I guess he's not one of the highest paid sportsman in the world for nothing.
 
I agree with your point but I find myself often not concentrating on the road while talking on the blower. Naturally I use a hands free solution but the distraction is sill there nonetheless. I wonder how Sebastian Vettel (and his colleagues) manages<snip>
I'm betting Sebastian is not as bored as the average person loosing concentration on the road. It's called a comfort zone when people start making mistakes from lack of concentration, especially when something unusual happens creating a distraction. I'm betting there is not much in the way of unusual distraction on the race track.

As for the topic voice controls would still be considered an unusual distraction. That's because it has not become the norm yet. That doesn't mean it will always be that way. The people that did this write up don't have any vision of how the future can be.
 
So the undistracted reaction time is 450ms.
As a gamer, I am stunned to see that figure; reality is unplayable!

The decision tree is much longer than just moving your hand/finger and deciding whether to hit it or not. Though yes, brilliant comment.
 
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