Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are two fantastic advancements in automobile infotainment software. They bring the power and functionality of people’s phones to the dashboard of their vehicle. When used properly, they can lower instances of distracted driving. However, if used carelessly, they can actually make driving more dangerous. A Las Vegas car accident lawyer from ER Injury Attorneys explains three ways that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can reduce distracted driving and three ways it can lead to distractions.
Three Ways Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Can Help You Avoid Distracted Driving
Modern infotainment systems, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, can significantly decrease driver distraction through powerful software integration. Here are three notable features that can help you stay safe on the road.
- Powerful Voice Control: This feature can be a true game-changer for increasing driver safety. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can control a number of your car’s functions, execute phone commands, update your navigation route, and find you useful information through Siri or Google Assistant. Examples of these commands range from saying, “Text Mom that I’m 30 minutes away from her house,” to “Navigate to the nearest gas station,” and, “What’s the current weather in [your destination]?” Advanced voice controls give you access to a wide variety of car functionality and Internet information, without you having to take your hands off of the steering wheel or your eyes off the road.
- Adding More Controls to the Steering Wheel: Some people aren’t comfortable using voice assistants like Apple Siri or Google Assistant. For these drivers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto let you customize the controls on a steering wheel, depending on how the manufacturer implemented the software. While steering wheel controls aren’t new, Apple and Google have made being able to customize the functions you use the most easier than ever. This can help you avoid visual and manual distractions by allowing you to stay focused on driving conditions.
- Simple UI With Large Icons: Unfortunately, there may be times when you need to take your hands off of the steering wheel and/or your eyes off the road. In these circumstances, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can shorten the time you spend looking at your infotainment system, thanks to their simplified user interfaces, large icons, and streamlined menus. This is a far cry, accessing functions through multiple knob presses and twists, as well as poorly designed menus.
When properly used, these modern infotainment systems show how technology can enhance driver safety. Naturally, their effectiveness ultimately depends on the driver–all the voice commands and slick user interfaces in the world won’t help if a person ignores safety practices and chooses to drive recklessly.
Three Ways Advanced Infotainment Systems Can Lead to Accidents
Despite their safety-focused designs, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can still create dangerous situations for drivers by increasing three types of distractions.
- Visual Distractions: While modern infotainment interfaces are simplified and vastly superior to what was available 15 years ago, there are still times when drivers must glance at the screen to initiate commands or confirm actions. Taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds can lead to a catastrophic accident. Unfortunately, the way some car manufacturers have implemented Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requires drivers to look at the screen instead of the road.
- Manual Distractions: Certain functions, such as scrolling through music or typing in an address with a street name that’s difficult for a voice assistant to understand, require touchscreen interaction. These moments of physical engagement with the system force you to remove your hands from the wheel. Similar to taking your eyes off the road, taking one or both hands off of the steering wheel for even a few seconds drastically reduces your ability to control your vehicle safety. This can be disastrous when unsafe conditions suddenly pop up.
- Cognitive Distractions: Lastly, the capabilities of modern infotainment systems have led to a new type of distraction for people with curious and wandering minds. The amount of information that can be accessed through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is massive. You can find the answers to most questions through a simple voice command or button press. This can take your mind off of the task of driving, which should be your primary concern. For example, there’s no reason to wonder what the atomic weight of cobalt is when you should be focused on driving safely. (It’s 58.9, for what it’s worth.) The fantastic capabilities of modern infotainment systems can lead to mental distractions, which can lead to automobile wrecks.
While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto represent great improvements over handheld phone use, they haven’t completely eliminated distraction. Mental distractions are particularly concerning, as these infotainment systems are becoming more powerful and feature-rich, increasing the potential for cognitive overload while driving. While these infotainment systems are undeniably powerful, you should not overrely on them. Your priority must be keeping yourself and your passengers safe.
Contact a Trusted Las Vegas Car Crash Attorney
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fantastic tools, but like any tool, they can be used to help or harm. If used to complement your safety practices, they can be an excellent way to reduce distracted driving. If used improperly, like holding marathon Wikipedia sessions while driving, they can increase your chances of an automobile collision.
The Las Vegas injury lawyers at ER Injury Attorneys hope that you use these tools to increase your driving safety. Should you get into a car wreck due to a distracted driver, please note that our team is available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can reach ER Injury Attorneys by phone at 702-878-7878 and online through LiveChat or an encrypted contact form. Our Nevada injury lawyers have successfully recovered outstanding settlements for clients in Las Vegas, Henderson, Summerlin, Pahrump, Boulder City, Laughlin, and other areas of Southern Nevada. Let us take care of all your legal needs so that you can focus on rest and recovery.