Apple CarPlay, Android Auto are Worse Than Drunk Driving, Study Shows

The latest in-vehicle infotainment systems designed to improve road safety are failing and impair reactions times behind the wheel more than alcohol and cannabis use, according to a shocking new study commissioned by British independent road-safety organization IAM RoadSmart.

In particular, reaction times at highway speeds increased average stopping distances by somewhere between four and five car lengths. Some drivers even take their eyes off the road for as long as 16 seconds, equivalent to a distance of more than 500 metres at 110 km/h.

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During the study, participants completed a series of three drives on the same simulated test route to assess the level of impact of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. On the first run, drivers did not interact with the system. On subsequent runs, drivers interacted with the system using voice control only and then using touch control only.

The following graphic shows the percentage increase in a distracted driver’s reaction times:

As you can see, alcohol and cannabis increase reaction times by 12 percent and 21 percent, respectively. All forms of in-car technology are worse, from hands-free phone use (27 percent) to touch control of multimedia displays (up to 57 percent).

While many drivers realized the system was causing a distraction and modified their behaviour—by slowing down, for example—performance was still adversely affected with drivers unable to maintain a constant distance to the vehicle in front, reacting more slowly to sudden occurrences and deviating outside of their lane, researchers found.

“While previous research indicates that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto perform better than more traditional buttons and controls, the results from this latest study raise some serious concerns about the development and use of the latest in-vehicle infotainment systems,” says Neil Greig, policy and research director at IAM RoadSmart. “We’re now calling on industry and government to openly test and approve such systems and develop consistent standards that genuinely help minimise driver distraction.”

Greig encourages owners of vehicles fitted with these systems to use them in the safest possible way, including setting everything up before starting a journey. And if you need to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto while on the go, voice control is a far safer method.