The Growing Problem Of Distracted Driving Apps: How In-Car Screens Contribute To Crashes

Vehicles are more technologically advanced than ever before. Nowadays, if you wish to be a safe driver, you ned to take Safety precautions such as 

• Automatic brakes
• Blind spot attendants
• Lane management sensors

However, those same technological advances can have the opposite effect in other areas. 

It is reasonable to ask whether drivers are more distracted on the road. Additionally, we need to ask this despite these advances in safety technology.  

With more to adjust, review, and monitor than ever before, do these in-vehicle apps promote distracted driving? Or, do they actually keep drivers safer?

How In-Car Screens Promote Distracted Driving? 

Despite the safety improvements that vehicles have undergone in recent years, those same technological advances have a tendency to divert attention from the road. 

Touch screens are a part of modern life. They literally call for our eyes and beckon us to click and swipe. 

Our cell phones, tablets, and even refrigerators utilize touch screen technology. 

We are able to cycle through many options at the flick of a finger. This is opposed to older vehicles that use analog controls, which you can navigate just by feel, unlike screens that require a visual confirmation. 

Touch screens require that a driver locate and then cycle through various options. 

It is impossible to differentiate between various settings, screens, and options on a touch screen without looking. 

Control knobs that were common in older model vehicles can be distinguished from one another based on their location on a dashboard as well as their size. 

It took a short amount of time for a driver to acclimate to the location and size of analog controls in a new vehicle. 

1. The Size Of The Screen Is A Distraction In And Of Itself

One of the aspects of our cell phones that many of us find so appealing is how the screen looks. 

Bright, vibrant colors highlight our screens and leave us wanting more “screen time.” 

Studies have shown that simply dimming the normally bright screens on our cell phones can help us reduce the amount of time we spend scrolling. 

Some iPhone users even turn their screens to black and white to help lower their overall screen time.

The same general principle applies to the screens found in vehicles. Large screens capture the attention of drivers in the same way that our phones do. 

When one vehicle manufacturer produces a large screen, it encourages subsequent vehicles to be manufactured with screens that are as large or larger than the existing model’s screens. 

2. What The Screens Display Is A Distraction In And Of Itself

In earlier makes and models of vehicles, carmakers focused on creating buttons and dials. These were functional yet difficult to engineer. 

The trend now is for vehicle manufacturers to focus their time on the software. The large screens inside the vehicles project this software. 

Believe it or not, many vehicles feature software that is less expensive to create than the dials and knobs of earlier vehicles. 

Touchscreens, while sleek and attractive to view, are complex to navigate. Instead of needing to flip a single switch to activate the air conditioning, drivers now must cycle through multiple screens to operate simple functions within their vehicles. 

3. Social Media: A Distraction At Rest And In Motion

The impact of social media on our world is immense. Walk up and down a busy street, and you are likely to find many people with their heads turned down. 

Invariably, the eyes of the people you encounter will be fixated on their cell phones. Many, if not most, of these people will have their eyes set on social media. 

Social media acts as a distraction from our everyday lives. While the distractions that social media offers are not always bad, consider that these same distractions are in effect while you are driving. 

Additionally, you must remember that you cannot limit social media to scrolling through social updates. 

Now, social media is as much about subscribing to content, watching short videos, and “liking” this video, app, or other type of content. 

How Can You Avoid Distractions Within A Vehicle?

Distracted driving is dangerous. When another driver takes their eyes off the road for even a second, it places you and any vehicle in their area at risk of suffering serious harm. 

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the safety risks connected to in-vehicle screens. 

• Use technology to your advantage. Instead of operating touch screens while the vehicle is moving, opt to use voice-activated technology instead. Doing so allows you to multitask while simultaneously keeping your eyes on the road.
•  It is tempting to use screens while driving for navigation purposes. Instead of starting your trip and then looking up directions to your destination, you can find directions before starting the vehicle. Familiarize yourself with the route you will be taking to minimize the need to take your eyes off the road. 
• Learn how to turn off screens or disable them while driving. Remove the temptation to touch screens when driving. Perform basic research on how to disable the touch screen feature or any other technology that is available. 

What Type Of Damages Are Available To A Person Injured In A Distracted Driving Case?

A range of potential damages is available to anyone injured due to the negligence of a distracted driver. You do have rights after a car accident. 

Medical expenses frequently end up as the most impactful part of your case. Why? Because you have invested as far as dollars and cents are concerned. 

Medical care is expensive. But that does not mean you should not seek out the opinion of a doctor after you have suffered an injury. 

Also, it may take a short period of time before the doctors and medical experts discover the true extent of your injuries.

Lost wages and pain and suffering round out the types of compensation available to a person injured in a distracted driving case. 

So, you must provide yourself with a leg up on collecting evidence by documenting the number of days that you have missed work.