Less-Distracted Driving

published 1 December 2010

Last year, nearly one in five road fatalities were related to distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Cell-phone calls and texting aren't the only culprits. Fatigue, eating, drinking and simple inattention are to blame, too. But the role of electronics in accidents was the focus of the second annual distracted-driving summit in September.

At the summit, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reprimanded carmakers for introducing more distractions into vehicles -- he cited GM's revamped OnStar with audio Facebook updates as an example -- and said he would meet with manufacturers to discuss safety guidelines for new technology. LaHood is also pushing for more states to ban drivers from texting and using handheld cell phones. Currently, 30 states and the District of Columbia ban texting, and eight states plus D.C. ban handheld cell-phone calls.

But studies by the Highway Loss Data Institute indicate that neither type of ban has reduced crashes in states that have adopted them. One possible reason that cell-phone bans haven't reduced crashes is that drivers keep using their phones even when it's illegal. A Harris poll notes that although 88% of adults think that using a cell phone while driving is dangerous, 72% of drivers with phones use them anyway.

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The technology fix. So how can you be safer while continuing to use your phone -- or a navigation or climate-control system? Bluetooth connectivity -- which allows you to talk when you're behind the wheel without holding your phone -- is a good start. Integrated Bluetooth systems were available on 93% of 2010 vehicles. But you still need to avert your eyes from the road to dial. And that simple act makes you three times more likely to have an accident, according to research by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. VTTI's real-world driving study indicates that the key to safety is keeping your eyes on the road.

Carmakers are citing this research as they begin offering voice-activated controls for vehicle infotainment systems -- phone, navigation and audio. For example, Sync, a collaboration between Microsoft and Ford, includes Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port for audio and voice command for both. It will read incoming text messages to you, and you can get audio turn-by-turn directions. Sync is available on nearly every 2011 Ford model (it's standard on pricier trim levels and a $395 option on other models), and it's standard on Lincoln models.

BMW's reengineered iDrive also features an easy-to-use voice-command system for selecting destinations, contacts and music. It comes standard on the 7-series and is available as an option on other models. And Audi introduced a touchpad on its 2011 A8 that recognizes handwritten letters and numbers for navigation.

The next frontier? Integrated systems that let you control almost anything by voice. MyFord Touch (and MyLincoln Touch), both powered by Sync, can manipulate your car's entertainment and climate via voice command, in addition to controlling phone, audio and navigation. Among the 10,000 verbal commands it understands are questions such as "What's playing?" (to hear the song and artist) and "Where am I?" (to map your current location). Say "I'm hungry," and it will help you find a restaurant. MyFord Touch is available on the 2011 Edge ($1,000 on the SEL model and standard on Limited and Sport models), and MyLincoln Touch is standard on the 2011 MKX.

Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, says you can't count on such systems to eliminate distractions, and some features could do the opposite. For example, Sync will read you your horoscope, weather reports and stock quotes. To play it really safe, says Lund, supplement voice-activated systems with crash-avoidance technology, such as lane-departure and frontal-crash warning systems.

Anderson has been with Kiplinger since January 2004, when she joined the staff as a reporter. Since then, she's covered the gamut of personal finance issues—from mortgages and credit to spending wisely—and she heads up Kiplinger's annual automotive rankings. She holds a BA in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was the 2012 president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and serves on its board of directors. In 2014, she was selected for the North American Car and Truck Of the Year jury. The awards, presented at the Detroit Auto Show, have come to be regarded as the most prestigious of their kind in the U.S. because they involve no commercial tie-ins. The jury is composed of nationally recognized journalists from across the U.S. and Canada, who are selected on the basis of audience reach, experience, expertise, product knowledge, and reputation in the automotive community.