Although the risk of distracted driving was not eliminated completely, a study showed voice recognition systems in cars reduced the time drivers looked at their devices when calling a contact or entering an address, according to a report by The Detroit News on Tuesday, March 3.
The study, which was conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s AgeLab and Massachusetts Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), included 80 drivers between ages 20 and 66. Half of them drove a Chevrolet Equinox equipped with MyLink voice recognition system, while the other half drove a 2013 Volvo XC60 with Volvo Sensus. Both systems reduced the time drivers looked away when calling a contact using voice command to an average of 13 seconds, which was 2 seconds less than the average time when dialing a contact manually.
Distracted driving is quickly becoming one of the most common causes of road accidents in the country. If you believe a distracted driver caused your car accident and injuries, speak with our team of personal injury lawyers in Detroit at Detroit Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss the possibility of taking legal action. Call us at (248) 948-9696 today.
Driving while voice texting still dangerously distracts drivers, researchers from the University of Central Florida (UCF) found.
According to a Reuters article, UCF conducted a study that involved 40 texting drivers in a traffic incident that would measure their reaction time to road stimuli. While driving a car simulator, each of them was asked to text using either a smartphone or Google Glass. The drivers were then forced to react to a car ahead of them by suddenly applying brakes. The results revealed that although drivers using Google Glass were quicker to return attention back on the road, there was statistically no difference between how quickly the two drivers hit their brakes.
Ben Sawyer, psychological researcher of UCF, stated that although wearable technology such as Google Glass may help texters fix their eyes on the road while texting, looking at the road does not necessarily mean they see it.
Distracted driving accounts for many serious accidents on our roads and highways, resulting in millions of dollars in damages and, tragically, thousands of lives lost. If you believe a damaging car accident in Detroit was the result of distracted driving, our team of qualified personal injury attorneys at Detroit Personal Injury Attorneys, may help you file a lawsuit. Call us at (248) 948-9696 to discuss your situation.
An 18-year old female freshman from Western Michigan University was killed and her two passengers were injured after a car crash in western Michigan on October 13.
Emily Lauer, who recently graduated with honors from Paw Paw High School earlier this year, was speeding on an unpaved road and attempted to drive the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am to go over a small bridge while airborne. Lauer lost control of her vehicle, struck a tree, rolled over, and landed upside down.
Authorities found her pinned in the car and extricated her using the Jaws of Life. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her back seat passenger, an 18-year old male, sustained serious head and facial injuries. A 16 year old was injured while riding in the passenger seat. All three wore seat belts and authorities believe alcohol was not a factor in the accident.