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Tech-loaded cars part of distracted driver debate

Agency: Distraction limit would reduce fatalities.

Bob Ross Auto Group President Jenell Ross uses the new Mercedes ML350 during a preview of the Dayton Auto Show, which opens today at the Dayton Convention Center.

Jim Witmer Bob Ross Auto Group President Jenell Ross uses the new Mercedes ML350 during a preview of the Dayton Auto Show, which opens today at the Dayton Convention Center.

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Jim Witmer The NHTSA plans hearings on guidelines on in-dash infotainment systems.

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer Updated 10:47 AM Thursday, February 23, 2012

Automakers are loading new cars with complex entertainment and navigation systems in a bid to generate more profit and appeal to young consumers who want to extend their connected lifestyles to their vehicles. But federal officials and safety advocates are concerned the systems will increase distracted driving.

More than 5,400 people were killed and an estimated 448,000 were injured in crashes involving driver distraction in 2009, the most recent year for which figures were available, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The agency will hold public hearings next month on proposed federal guidelines to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle “infotainment” systems.

The systems include entertainment, navigation, communication and climate functions, but are not required to safely operate the vehicle.

A number of the high-tech systems, which also allow drivers to surf the Internet and update their social networks from behind the wheel, will be displayed today through Sunday at the Dayton Auto Show at the Dayton Convention Center.

Systems that allow drivers to access their cellphones hands-free are becoming a “necessity,” said Ericka Pfeifer, a Ford Motor Company spokeswoman. “We are on our cellphones all the time,” she said.

The company’s updated MyFord Touch system is featured at the auto show and allows drivers to access their infotainment functions via traditional buttons, a touchscreen or voice-activated commands, Pfeifer said.

Consumers want “connected cars” with access to their smartphone technology and the Internet because it allows them to make better use of their time while driving, said Dayton Auto Show Director Dan Zinni.

“You have access to it right there and to be able to do it hands-free — that way you can actually drive your vehicle and not worry about crashing — is important,” Zinni said.

However, some infotainment systems can require the driver to look down at the center console to find a button or joystick-like controller and then “wade through complex on-screen menus to perform even simple functions,” according to a Consumer Reports study.

The NHTSA’s proposed voluntary guidelines include limiting activities that require drivers to take both hands off the wheel or that take more than two seconds to perform.

“This is clearly a work in progress,” said David Cole, chairman emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich. “The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is working with the industry and what they are trying to do is minimize distraction if they can and at the same time provide people with access to these technologies.”

Carmakers are turning to infotainment systems to make automobiles more attractive to young people, said John Heitmann, a University of Dayton history professor who teaches a course called “The Automobile and American Life” and is the author of a book by that name.

“The perception is that the love affair that previous generations had with the automobile is not nearly as strong or dynamic as it once was,” Heitmann said. Connected cars represent a “quick technological fix” to the industry’s concerns about the youth market, he said.

Cars that can access the Internet give drivers quick access to information that can save them time and gasoline by avoiding needless driving. Many drivers already are seeking this type of information behind the wheel using their smartphones, which have smaller buttons and displays than most infotainment systems.

“If you use a portable device, that level of distraction is considerably higher than when it is built into the car,” Cole said.

Safety is a priority for automakers, who are trying to strike a balance with customer convenience, according to Ford’s Pfeifer. “They don’t want you looking down at a map or reading text messages; they want it all to be audible so you can keep your eyes on the road and minimize that possibility for accidents,” she said.

According to an August 2011 NHTSA study on driver distraction, text-messaging was associated with the highest level of distraction potential. Ten-digit phone dialing was the second most distracting task; radio tuning had the lowest level.

The agency’s proposed guidelines also recommend disabling visual-manual text messaging, Internet browsing and 10-digit phone dialing operations by in-vehicle electronic devices while driving.

Electronic-warning system functions such as forward-collision or lane departure alerts would not be subject to the proposed guidelines. No penalties would be imposed on carmakers that fail to comply.

President Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget request includes $330 million during six years for distracted driving programs that increase awareness of the issue and encourage stakeholders to take action.

The growing popularity of in-vehicle infotainment technologies could add up to $200 in annual revenues per vehicle as the use of those services increases among drivers and passengers, according to technology services firm Accenture.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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