Older drivers (ages 55-75) removed their eyes and attention from the road for more than eight seconds longer than younger drivers (ages 21-36) when performing simple tasks such as programming navigation or tuning the radio using in-vehicle infotainment technology, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
Taking eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles a driver's risk of a crash, the foundation pointed out in a statement.
“Voice-command functions found in new in-vehicle technology are intended to help drivers by keeping their eyes and attention on the road,” said David Yang, the foundation's executive director. “Unfortunately, the complexity and poor design of some of these systems could cause more harm for older drivers, in particular, instead of helping them.”
By 2030, more than one in five drivers on the road will be over the age of 65. With seniors becoming the fastest growing demographic in the United States, finding ways to design technology to improve their comfort and safety is critical and may hold the key to enhancing the safe use of this technology for all drivers, according to the foundation.
The foundation partnered with researchers from the University of Utah to test the visual and cognitive demand created by the infotainment systems in six 2018 vehicles. Study participants in two age groups (21-36 and 55-75) were required to use voice commands, touch screens, and other interactive technologies to make a call, send a text message, tune the radio, or program navigation, all while driving.
Researchers found that the technology created potentially unsafe distractions for all drivers, though this safety risk was more pronounced for older adults, who took longer (4.7-8.6 seconds) to complete tasks, experienced slower response times, and increased visual distractions.
Completion Time by Task Type
| Audio Entertainment | Calling and Dialing | Text Messaging | Navigation Entry | |
| Younger (21-36 yrs) | 18.0 sec | 17.7 sec | 27.7 sec | 31.4 sec |
| Older (55-75 yrs) | 25.4 sec | 22.4 sec | 33.8 sec | 40.0 sec |
The complex design of the technology created increased visual and cognitive demand for older drivers. For example, some systems included multiple menus and cumbersome voice command functions that significantly reduced older drivers' ability to easily complete seemingly simple tasks.
Specific design changes to in-vehicle infotainment systems, such as improving voice-command technology, simplifying software menus, removing complex center console controls, and positioning system controls to allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road, would better meet the needs of older adults and make the systems safer for all drivers, the foundation said.
“This is a design problem, not an age problem,” said Jake Nelson, the AAA's director of traffic safety advocacy and research. “Designing systems to meet the safety and comfort needs of aging drivers would benefit all of us today, and for years to come.”
Personal assessments about distraction caused by in-vehicle technologies are not always accurate. For example, in some cases drivers reported the use of the systems as less demanding even though researchers measured higher levels of demand or longer task completion times.
Learn more: AAA.com/distraction.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].