Two Second Rule: Distraction Guidelines Seek to Limit Eyes on Text

Limit Eyes on Text

In order to keep a driver’s eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recommended disabling several operations in a vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped and in park. It is also recommending a limit to the amount of time a driver must take their eyes off the road to perform a single task to 2 seconds and six screen touches in 12 seconds to perform a task. These could include changing the radio station, adjusting temperature or answering a phone call using a car’s built-in hands-free software.

The recommendations are the result of findings from a new NHTSA naturalistic driving study, which showed that visual-manual tasks associated with hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by a factor of three.

The operations recommended to be disabled, unless stopped and in park, would include manual text entry for the purposes of text messaging and internet browsing; video-based entertainment and communications; and the display of certain types of text, including text messages, web pages, social media content.

Yes, everyday electronics in use while driving trumps random and occasional instrument panel distraction. Our concern is that the issue will remain under the radar until someone is injured or worse, much like the stop light that is only installed after repeated accidents at the same street corner. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Compliance Timeline

Automakers will have three years to retool electronic navigation and entertainment systems in order to comply as the final guidelines are phased in. And NHTSA Administrator David L. Strickland said the agency will consider including the distraction guidelines in its New Car Assessment Program, which is the basis of the government’s five-star safety light vehicle ratings system.

Truly the growing everyday use of electronics while driving are a proven danger and the agency should be applauded for the solid data backing up the guidelines. However, the elephant in the room remains the impact on a driver that a warning light has when it pops on while driving. Or worse, multiple lights. Or worse yet, an associated text message on the information displays embedded in today’s instrument panels. How about the growing use by manufacturers of fuel economy and battery life readouts? The impact on and time used by driver’s in these case should be considered as well.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

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