Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Answers: How Safe Are Voice-Activated Systems?

Distracted driving has become more and more prevalent. Each year, thousands of people get injured as a result of distracted driving. In spite of all the government initiatives and latest technological advancement, we have not been able to curb distracted driving.

Many drivers install and use voice activated systems in their cars thinking that they are making a safe driving choice. These systems let the drivers perform tasks such as control volume of the music system, dial a phone number, change the radio, and some other tasks using simple voice commands. These voice activated systems are becoming more popular and more affordable each day. While most of us would think that these systems can help prevent distracted driving, because it does not involve the use of hands, this is far from true. Distraction comes in many forms, and there are studies to show that these hand-free systems may cause greater distraction among drivers. In this post, our best attorney will discuss how voice activated systems can cause more distraction than we think.

Research on voice activated systems

The American Automobile Association’s Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted two separate studies to reveal the distracting effects of voice based interactive technologies within cars. The researchers used various experiments to evaluate driver reaction time under different conditions including composing messages and navigating menus. They also tested specific systems to study the amount of distraction they caused. It was revealed that the systems that caused maximum distraction were the ones that were inaccurate and unreliable. They caused the driver to become frustrated, and took their attention off the most important task at hand - driving.

Research has also shown that less complicated systems take the motorist’s attention off the road for up to 15 seconds, even after the motorist stops using the system. However, the most complicated systems distract motorists for 27 seconds after he/she stops using it.

Seeking legal help for car accident

Distracted driving accidents happen. Anyone can become a victim no matter how careful he/she is, because there are always other distracted drivers on the road. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in United States, nine people get killed and another 1,153 get injured each day due to negligent distracted drivers.

If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to the negligence of a distracted driver, you should immediately contact a top-rated Chicago injury lawyer. You may be able to recover damages for all your losses including medical expenses, property damage, and pain and suffering. Call Willens Law Offices today at (312) 957-4166 to schedule a free consultation.