A new Norwegian study, conducted by Trygg Trafikk, reveals that touchscreens in cars are a trap. Critical functions take too long to operate.
Drivers' use of their car's touchscreen can be a serious threat to road safety, according to a new Norwegian study from Trygg Trafikk.
According to the study, it can take up to 15 seconds to operate the car's screen for simple tasks. That's a critically long time to take your attention off the road, points out Bård Morten Johansen from Trygg Trafikk.
The Norwegian traffic safety association Trygg Trafikk is behind the study. They have collaborated with Nord University and the insurance company Fremtind. The purpose was to investigate the consequences of modern car touchscreens.
The study is the reaction time of 44 drivers behind the wheel. Their driving was closely monitored. A point-of-view camera recorded where the drivers' eyes were directed.
During the test, all drivers had to perform three common tasks. They had to change the radio station via the screen. They also had to enter an address into the car's navigation system. Finally, they had to change the temperature in the air conditioning.
The task of entering an address into the navigation was the most demanding.
"It required the drivers to spend an average of 15.7 seconds to complete the writing," says Bård Morten Johansen.
Norwegian rules and reactions
Changing the radio channel also took a considerable amount of time. That task took an average of ten to eleven seconds for drivers. Changing the temperature was the quickest task. It took just under four seconds on average.
Trygg Trafikk emphasizes an important point about attention.
– There is a magic limit of two seconds, explains Bård Morten Johansen. He elaborates.
– Taking your eyes off the road for more than two seconds is critical in terms of road safety.
The results of the study are described as disappointing by Trygg Trafikk. The association sees the use of large screens as a direct threat to road safety. They believe the danger is comparable to using a mobile phone while driving.
"It can definitely be compared to using a telephone," Bård Morten Johansen tellsNorwegian TV2 .
– Two seconds is enough to lose concentration on the road.
Based on the results, Trygg Trafikk is now proposing new measures in Norway. They want a ban on drivers using their mobile phones while driving.
In Norway, texting while driving is already prohibited. It carries a fine of 5,000 Norwegian kroner, equivalent to approximately 3,250 Danish kroner. Here, the fine is followed by a cut in the driver's license.
But the Norwegians may want to go even further. The Norwegian government has proposed banning all traffic alarms in the country. The technology interferes with police pursuits of motorists, according to the defense of the proposal.
Criticism and stricter rules
The proposal for a total ban on touching the phone is, however, met with resistance. The motoring organization NAF (Norwegian Automobile Association) is critical.
– A total ban on touching the phone goes too far, says press officer Ingunn Handagard.
She believes it is inconsistent with other legal actions behind the wheel and can undermine respect for traffic rules.
In neighboring Sweden, the rules are different and already stricter in some areas. It is already forbidden to hold a mobile phone in your hand while driving, says Swedish traffic police officer Anders Schääf.
Anders Schääf recognizes the problem from the Norwegian study. He also draws parallels between using the car's touchscreen and what both emergency workers and Swedes call steering wheel surfing (using a mobile phone).
He finds it paradoxical that "rat-surfing" is prohibited, while operating an integrated screen is permitted.
Schääf refers to a test he has seen. "I particularly notice an older test. A driver in a modern car versus someone driving an old Volvo.
– The conclusion was clear: In the older Volvo, it was easier to stay focused on the road because all the buttons were easy to use.
The debate about touchscreens and physical buttons continues in the automotive industry. In many new car models, car brands are betting on screens replacing as many buttons as possible.
There's one very simple reason for that – money. It's simply cheaper to have one screen than multiple buttons. However, some car brands have vowed to return to buttons. Read more about it here .
