Drivers warned over common car feature that can be worse than drink-driving

Drivers could be putting themselves at greater risk than drink-drivers simply by using their car's touchscreen, experts warn.

Motorists themselves are becoming increasingly wary of technology, with almost half (47%) saying touchscreen controls are more distracting than traditional buttons and switches.

Modern vehicles are packed with technology designed to make journeys easier, but some of the most popular in-car features may be putting drivers at greater risk behind the wheel.

Driver distraction contributes to almost one in five (19%) road accidents in the UK. While features such as Apple CarPlay and voice assistants are designed to improve convenience, they can also compete for a driver's attention when their concentration should be focused on the road ahead.

The 10 most distracting in-car features

1. Touchscreen infotainment systems
2. Steering wheel touch controls
3. Built-in satellite navigation systems
4. Voice assistants
5. Digital dashboards and customisable displays
6. Heads-up displays
7. Ambient lighting and interior customisation features
8. Climate control touchscreen menus
9. In-car messaging and notification alerts
10. Advanced parking cameras and monitoring systems

Of these, touchscreen controls are causing the greatest concern, as motorists using Apple CarPlay via a touchscreen experienced reaction times 57% slower than normal. In comparison, drivers at the legal alcohol limit recorded reaction times 12% slower than usual, while cannabis use resulted in a 21% delay.

The same study found that drivers could take their eyes off the road for up to 16 seconds while interacting with touchscreen systems. At 70mph, that's enough time to travel more than 500 metres without fully monitoring the road ahead.

Follow these simple steps before setting off: 

1. Set navigation destinations before beginning a journey.
2. Choose playlists, podcasts or radio stations in advance.
3. Enable "Do Not Disturb" driving modes where available.
4. Familiarise yourself with vehicle controls before driving.
5. Pull over safely before making complex adjustments.
6. Ask passengers to manage navigation or entertainment controls on longer trips.

With touchscreens and connected technologies now standard in most new vehicles, road safety specialists are urging motorists to treat in-car systems with the same caution as any other potential distraction.

For more motoring advice, check out our comprehensive Motoring Essentials guides. 

Sources:

Nearly half of drivers say touchscreens are more distracting than traditional buttons - Road Safety GB

Driver distraction contributes to almost one in five (19%) road accidents in the UK - Vitality

Motorists using Apple CarPlay through a touchscreen experienced reaction times that were 57% slower than normal - IAMRoadSmart

Drivers at the legal alcohol limit recorded reaction times 12% slower than usual, while cannabis use resulted in a 21% delay -  IAMRoadSmart

Drivers could take their eyes off the road for up to 16 seconds while interacting with touchscreen systems  -  IAMRoadSmart