A new study from the University of Washington, conducted in partnership with the Toyota Research Institute (TRI), has highlighted the dangers of touchscreens in modern automobiles.
Infotainment screens have become practically indispensable in contemporary cars. In recent years, few vehicles leave factories without a multimedia system positioned in the center of the dashboard.
However, although they have brought many conveniences to drivers, such as the integration of navigation and media applications, the new research highlights that they can pose significant risks to driver safety.
For the study, researchers placed 16 participants in a simulator. They had to hit targets on a 12-inch touchscreen, similar to those used in today’s cars, while performing memory tests simulating 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, during interaction with the screen, the lateral deviation in the lane increased by 42%.
Furthermore, touch accuracy and speed dropped by 58% while driving and further deteriorated when mental load increased. Performance also didn’t improve with larger button sizes.
According to researchers, many drivers reach out to the screen before even looking at it. This is why the ideal would be for manufacturers to focus on integrating simple eye tracking sensors to measure the driver’s attention in future models.
Thus, the interface could adapt in real time, highlighting essential controls and reducing distractions, which would increase the safety of using touchscreens while driving.
Photo: Unsplash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
