AS DRIVERS start taking delivery of their 70-plate vehicles, a leading safety charity is calling for more stringent training over in-car technology.
IAM RoadSmart says this month’s new registration car sales provides the ideal opportunity to ensure motorists are shown how to properly use the likes of infotainment kit.
The UK’s largest road-safety charity says the Government and vehicle manufacturers should enforce greater education about the hi-tech features before buyers leave the forecourts.
Dealers, who will hopefully be getting a welcome boost from the new number plate sales, need to be at the forefront of this vital tuition, claims IAM RoadSmart.
It also points out that the onus is on new car owners to thoroughly familiarise themselves with the infotainment and safety systems before driving their latest wheels.
While most new in-car features, including infotainment and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), are designed to increase road safety, they need to be used correctly, says the organisation.
Research it commissioned earlier this year revealed that distractions caused by smartphone integration systems can badly affect motorists’ reaction times and increase stopping distances.
In fact, braking, lane control and response to external events were all negatively affected by the use of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Disturbingly, analysis of the data shows that these technologies can impair responses behind the wheel more than alcohol and cannabis use.
Tests showed drivers using the tech reacted significantly more slowly at motorway speeds than someone who had used cannabis and five times worse than someone driving at the legal limit of alcohol consumption.
IAM RoadSmart director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “With the arrival of the new registration plate, now is the perfect opportunity to highlight the importance of correctly using the latest in-car technology.
“Swiping a screen is replacing the turn of a button or dial, so it is vital that car dealers educate motorists on how to correctly use these new systems, so that they are a safety benefit and not a potentially dangerous distraction.”
Other findings from the IAM RoadSmart study revealed that using in-car touchscreens resulted in reaction times that were even worse than texting while driving.
Mr Greig said: “Driver distraction is estimated to be a factor in about a third of all road collisions in Europe each year.
“As the amount of in-car infotainment and ADAS features continues to increase, we believe car dealers have a responsibility to correctly educate their customers and ensure they are familiar with all the hi-tech systems in their shiny new purchase before they leave the forecourt.
“It is also imperative that the Government and the vehicle manufacturers enforce and support this.
“We’re calling on the industry and Government to openly test and approve such systems and develop consistent standards that genuinely help minimise driver distraction.
“Whether you’re buying a new car now or already own a vehicle with technology that is new to you, it is vital that you use it safely. Anything that distracts a driver’s eye or mind from the road is bad news for road safety.”
