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As car manufacturers compete to capture market share, in-car entertainment and technology have become a key battleground. While performance, safety, and reliability remain vital in the car-buying decision, cutting-edge in-car tech—touted as essential for convenience and safety—now plays a major role in shaping consumer preferences. However, the rise of these technologies brings a darker side: driver distraction. It is estimated that distraction contributes to 10 to 30% of road collisions, a staggering statistic given its impact on European roads. Every year, nearly 25,000 lives are lost, and over 135,000 people suffer serious injuries, underscoring the urgent need to address this issue.
Research shows that texting while driving doubles the risk of a crash, making early innovations like Ford’s Sync system—which could read texts aloud and allow responses without taking hands off the wheel—a game-changer for safety. But as today’s systems increasingly integrate smartphone functions and offer access to a wide range of apps on tablet-like screens, are these infotainment systems becoming more of a distraction than a help?
Modern Infotainment Systems
Driving demands full attention, but with modern cars, distraction is just a tap—or a voice command—away. Distractions are typically categorised as physical, visual, or auditory, and for decades, research has focused on activities that compete for a driver’s attention. While the dangers of using mobile phones while driving are well-documented, the risks posed by in-car infotainment systems are less clear but increasingly concerning.
Touchscreens are now standard features on many new cars often replacing traditional physical controls. In 2022, the Swedish motoring magazine Vi Bilägare conducted a test to see how long it takes drivers to complete everyday tasks, like adjusting the temperature or changing the radio station, using touchscreens compared to traditional physical controls. The results highlighted that drivers take significantly longer to complete these tasks with in-car touchscreens.
Research from the UK’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) for IAM RoadSmart found that using Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems leads drivers to take their eyes off the road for extended periods. This distraction negatively affects lane control, speed consistency, and reaction times. Drivers often underestimate how long they’ve been distracted.
The automotive industry is placing greater emphasis on balancing cutting-edge technology with user-friendly design to reduce driver distraction. Innovations like voice control systems are being introduced as alternatives to touchscreens, aiming to reduce the cognitive load on drivers while still providing easy access to essential features.
A recent study published in Nature explored how different input methods—such as touchscreens versus voice-controlled auditory interfaces—affect driver distraction. The findings revealed that tasks like adjusting navigation or music were particularly distracting, with touchscreen inputs causing drivers to look away from the road for longer periods. In contrast, using voice commands significantly improved driving performance, reducing distraction levels and allowing drivers to keep their focus where it belongs—on the road.
The Future of In-Car Tech Systems
As in-car infotainment systems evolve, we can expect them to become even more complex, offering an ever-expanding array of apps and entertainment options, including video streaming and gaming. Access to subscription-based services like YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify is set to become more common, with car manufacturers increasingly incorporating features that mirror the functionalities of smartphones.
However, with these advancements come new challenges. More research is needed to fully understand the potential risks and benefits of these in-car technologies. To ensure safety, regulations and guidelines must be developed and implemented to guide the design of these systems.
Looking ahead, new Euro NCAP testing rules, set to launch in 2026, will push manufacturers to prioritise safety by encouraging the use of separate, physical controls for basic functions. This move aims to promote safer driving. Under the upcoming rating scheme, manufacturers will no longer be able to achieve top safety ratings unless they provide proper physical switches for essential functions like indicators, hazard lights, the horn, windscreen wipers, and the eCall SOS function.
Driver distraction poses significant challenges for fleet managers, as it can significantly increase collision rates, leading to a heavy financial burden due to increased vehicle repairs, liability claims, and higher insurance premiums. Addressing distracted driving is essential for maintaining a safe and efficient fleet operation.
Car dealerships have a role to play. When selling cars, they should ensure that buyers understand both the benefits and potential risks of new in-car technologies. Consumers, too, should approach infotainment systems as potential safety hazards, ensuring they can access key information without taking their eyes off the road for extended periods.
In addition, car manufacturers should consider implementing technology that automatically detects when a vehicle is in motion, limiting access to distracting features while driving. By taking these steps, we can make roads safer and reduce the risks associated with modern infotainment systems.