In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems distracting to Older Drivers

Georgia’s Hands-Free Law took effect in July of 2018 making it illegal for drivers to have a phone in their hand or touching any part of their body while talking on their phone while driving.  However, new in-vehicle infotainment technology can also be distracting, explains Tiffany Wright, President of the AAA Carolinas Foundation for Traffic Safety. “We know that new in-vehicle infotainment technology has the potential to increase comfort and extend mobility for older drivers, but first it has to stop distracting them. On average, older drivers (ages 55-75) removed their eyes and attention from the road for more than eight seconds longer than younger drivers (ages 21-36) when performing simple tasks like programming navigation or tuning the radio using in-vehicle infotainment technology.  Voice-command functions found in new in-vehicle technology are intended to help drivers by keeping their eyes and attention on the road. Unfortunately, the complexity and poor design of some of these systems could cause more harm for older drivers, in particular, instead of helping them.” Taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles a driver’s risk of a crash. By 2030, more than one in five drivers on the road will be over the age of 65. With seniors becoming the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S., finding ways to design technology to improve their comfort and safety is critical and may hold the key to enhancing the safe use of this technology for all drivers.  The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety partnered with researchers from the University of Utah to test the visual and cognitive demand created by infotainment systems used by participants in two age groups (21-36 and 55-75). Researchers found that the technology created potentially unsafe distractions for all drivers, though this safety risk is more pronounced for older adults, who took longer (4.7-8.6 seconds) to complete tasks, experienced slower response times, and increased visual distractions. The complex design of the technology created increased visual and cognitive demand for older drivers. For example, some systems included multiple menus and cumbersome voice command functions that significantly reduced older drivers’ ability to easily complete seemingly simple tasks.  Specific design changes to in-vehicle infotainment systems, like improving voice-command technology, simplifying software menus, removing complex center console controls, and positioning system controls to allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road, would better meet the needs of older adults and make the systems safer for all drivers. Whether you purchase a new vehicle or rent one while traveling, AAA recommends that all drivers, especially older drivers, keep the following tips in mind. Avoid interacting with in-vehicle infotainment technology while driving except for legitimate emergencies. Practice using the voice command and touch screen functions when not driving to build comfort in case of emergency use is required. Avoid vehicles that require the use of a center console controller when using the infotainment system. These kinds of systems are especially distracting and potentially dangerous.