Submitted by Aiken Jacobsen on
Distracted driving is a serious issue. Every year we hear more and more reports about serious car accidents which are caused by drivers who take their eyes and attention off the road and focus it onto cell phones, car stereos, and food. It was expected that new car technology would be able to compensate for distracted drivers but sometimes car companies are part of the problem.
Ford's newest electronic gadgetry was recently given a harsh review in Consumer Reports Magazine. The non-profit agency is well respected for its balanced reviews and recommendations of a variety of products. A negative review from this group may spell trouble for Ford's newest invention.
The device is called the MyFord Touch. It is essentially a tablet computer mounted right in the middle of the dashboard. Instead of knobs and switches, all the interior functions of the car are displayed on a touch-screen interface.
Consumer Reports noted that the small screen was difficult to read and navigate. It was also slow to respond to a user's touch. The article called the system "time consuming and distracting to operate."
It is unclear if Ford or car buyers will be dissuaded by this negative review. What should worry consumers, however, are the distracted driving hazards which this device poses. Drivers will need to interact with this touch-screen every time they want to change car temperature, operate the stereo, adjust music volume, or use GPS navigation. Each time the driver takes his eyes off the road he risks causing an accident.
Studies show that a distracted driver has a reaction time as slow as that of a drunk driver. Many states have laws which ban texting and other cell phone use while driving because of the dangers of distracted driving. Devices such as the MyFord Touch may just be adding to the problem rather than solving it.
Source: USA Today online, "Consumer Reports blasts Ford's 'distracting' touch controls,"4 January 2011
