A new study from the University of Washington, conducted in collaboration with the Toyota Research Institute (TRI), has highlighted the dangers of touchscreen displays in modern cars.
Infotainment screens have become virtually indispensable in today’s cars. In recent years, few vehicles leave the factory without a multimedia system placed in the center of the dashboard.
But while they have brought several conveniences to drivers, such as the integration of navigation and media apps, the new research highlights that they can pose significant risks to driver safety.
For the study, the researchers placed 16 participants in a simulator. They had to touch targets on a 12-inch touchscreen, similar to those in today’s cars, while simultaneously performing memory tasks that simulate the cognitive load of real-world traffic.
Using sensors to track eye and hand movements, as well as physiological signals related to mental effort, the scientists found that while participants used the screen, lateral deviation within the lane increased by 42%.
Meanwhile, touch accuracy and speed while driving dropped by 58% and deteriorated further as mental load increased. Performance also did not improve with larger buttons.
According to the researchers, many drivers reach for the screen before actually looking at it. Therefore, it would be ideal for car manufacturers to focus on implementing simple eye-tracking sensors to measure driver attention in future models.
This would allow the interface to adapt in real time by highlighting essential controls and reducing distractions, which would in turn increase the safety of using touchscreen displays while driving.
Photo: Unsplash. This content was created using AI and reviewed by editors.
