Designed to keep drivers eyes on the road, head-up displays could actually be increasing driver distraction and raising the risk of car accidents.
Therefore, as this technology becomes more popular, many consumers and driver safety advocates are concerned with the adverse impact it may have on motorists’ ability to concentrate while driving.
What Are Head-Up Displays?
A head-up display is a type of car technology that projects driving data onto the windshield of a vehicle. The goal of the technology is to keep drivers eyes focused on the road by projecting data such as speed and navigation into the drivers field of vision, as opposed to making the driver look down at the dashboard while a vehicle is in motion.
This technology, which is commonly used in airplane flight simulators, is becoming more and more popular in automobiles.
What Makes This Technology Distracting?
Some companies are promoting head-up technology that would integrate smartphone features, allowing drivers to read and respond to text messages or social media posts that are projected through the display.
The American Automobile Associations (AAA) Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy, Jacob Nelson, worries this technology could do more harm than good.
Projecting information that is not directly related to driving could increase driver distraction and overload the cognitive mental process needed to focus on ones driving environment. Nelson feels innovative automobile technologies should never put driver safety at risk.
The National Safety Council president Deborah Hersman states there are currently no standards regarding the development of head-up technology, so display data designed to improve safety could be intermingled with information displayed for convenience, such as playlists, which could increase driver distraction.
However, head-up technology does have some potential benefits for drivers. Certain head-up display technology can alert drivers of pedestrians, potential collisions or upcoming intersections, all of which could improve motorist safety.
Ultimately, driver safety advocates agree this technology needs further studies to determine its level of distractibility. In the meantime, new automobile buyers are advised to test the technology before purchasing a vehicle with such features.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by someones distracted driving, contact an experienced, Cincinnati injury attorney at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy today.
