Another potential hazard of enjoying a car audio system is driver distraction. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 20 to 30 percent of all motor vehicle accidents occur because of driver distraction. Some insurance industry sources place it as high as 80 percent.
Although car audio and video get a bad rap, studies have shown that the most common causes of driver distraction include
- Grooming
- Eating or drinking
- Reading
- Smoking
- Reaching for something
- Talking with passengers
- Interacting with children
- Outside distractions
- Using a mobile phone
- Objects shifting in a vehicle
Although head unit manufacturers design their products with an eye towards making them easy to operate while driving, it’s up to each individual to ensure that they are not endangering the lives of their passengers, others on the road, and themselves by fiddling with a car audio system. Now that portable media players such as iPods have become popular, they pose an even greater risk of distracting a driver.
The issue has become even more urgent with the advent of in-car video. That’s one reason the Mobile Electronics division of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the trade group that represents the consumer electronics industry, launched its Watch the Road campaign, which offers advice and information on driver distraction on the Web at www.digitaldriver.org.
The Web site provides a state-by-state listing of laws governing the use of mobile electronics and portable electronics in a vehicle, a “Road Test IQ” to test your knowledge on driver distraction issues, and tips for driving smart with consumer electronics.
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