Two Agencies Cite Evidence That Hands Free Is Not Distraction Free

Hands Free?

Earlier this month, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a study stating that new vehicle hands free features may actually increase mental distraction. Now, a report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) finds that a 2013 truck, train collision at a highway railroad crossing in Maryland was caused in no small part by the driver of the truck being distracted by a telephone conversion that was taking place, despite being hands free. The driver was seriously injured. Four others received minor injuries as a result of a post-crash explosion.

On the plus side, AAA’s research did find that it is “possible to design hands-free technologies that are less cognitively distracting.” The research used a five-category rating system, with a score of 1 being the least distracting. The results are not too surprising, in that the accuracy of voice recognition software has a significant influence. Systems with low accuracy and reliability generated a high level (category 3) of distraction. Also, composing text messages and emails using in-vehicle technologies (category 3) was more distracting than using these systems to listen to messages (category 2). The quality of the systems’ voice had no impact. Listening to a natural or synthetic voice both rated as a category 2 level of distraction.

Best Scores

Toyota’s Entune® system came in with the lowest (highest!) score at 1.7, while the Chevrolet MyLink® was found to produce a high level of cognitive distraction (rated at 3.7). The Hyundai Blue Link (2.2), Chrysler Uconnect™ (2.7), Ford SYNC with MyFord Touch® (3.0) and Mercedes COMAND® (3.1) systems were also tested.

One surprise was a separate test Apple’s Siri (from iOS 7). Using the same metrics, the researchers found that hands- and eyes-free use of the Siri in-car system generated a category 4 level of mental distraction!

With scores as low as 1.7 – noted by AAA as about the same as listening to an audio book – it is clear that auto manufacturers can get it right. “It is clear that not all voice systems are created equal, and today’s imperfect systems can lead to driver distraction,” Bob Darbelnet, AAA’s chief executive officer, said. “AAA is confident that it will be possible to make safer systems in the future.”

But, regardless of the system, driver’s still need to pay attention and in the Maryland crash, the first cause is that the truck’s driver simply failed to ensure that the tracks were clear at the private crossing. The NTSB focused first on “distraction due to hands-free cell phone.” It did add however, “the limited sight distance due to vegetation and roadway curvature; and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) inadequate oversight of the motor carrier,” which was allowed to “continue operations despite a serious and consistent pattern of safety deficiencies.” The NTSB sought not to assign blame but only to determine the facts of the collision.

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