As if there weren’t enough factors vying for attention from motorists trying to get to their destinations, here’s another one: wearable devices.
According to a study by Murtuza Jadliwala, assistant professor of computer science at the University of Texas at San Antonio, drivers texting with a wearable device marginally reduce their level of distraction, but the practice is still distracting enough to make texting just as dangerous as with a mobile phone.
Many states, including New York where I live, have for several years made operating mobile phones a violation, subject to both fines and points—a hefty five to be exact—on one’s license. But while Bluetooth headsets and car infotainment systems have mostly eliminated the need for drivers to take their eyes off the road to operate their phones, the fact that the driver is engaged in another function while driving still amounts to a potentially dangerous distraction. This has been noted in a number of research studies.
In Dr. Jadliwala’s study, 20 volunteers were tasked with “driving” in a simulator that included a three-screen display, wheel, and pedals, while using either a smartphone or Google Glass. Jadliwala and his study collaborators sent the participants text messages, challenging them to drive safely while receiving and responding to the messages. The simulator recorded deviations in the steering wheel and whether the volunteers drifted out of their lane.
“We found that the Google Glass distracts the driver slightly less,” says Jadliwala. “But that also gave the participants a false sense of safety.”
The problem was the wearable device, due to its quicker response and use of voice-activated controls, would tend to engage the driver more, thus negating the marginal safety difference between the smart phone and the wearable device, according to the study.
Despite the fact that Google Glass is no longer being produced, the study noted that other forms of wearable technology, such as the Apple Watch and newer forms of head-mounted displays under development, could pose new challenges for drivers. It’s not hard to imagine the additional distraction of getting pinged not just by a smart phone but through text or email notifications from an Apple Smartwatch.
I’m sticking with my antiquated Casio analog watch for now.
Also, on another front, consider that some automotive manufacturers are incorporating virtual displays into new vehicles that is supposed to help drivers keep their eyes on the road and not down at the instrument panel. This technology shows promise, but how easily can drivers acclimate to this technology? Also, just as with the wearable devices mentioned in the study, can this virtual technology compensate for bad driver habits and judgement?
We’ll have to wait and see.
