Apple CarPlay, Android Auto distract drivers more than pot, alcohol, says study

Re:Apple CarPlay, Android Auto distract drivers more than po... by ghaff on Saturday March 21, 2020 @11:57AM (#22647394)

It almost feels as if we pretend that "hands free" solves the distraction problem. In practice, I find that voice commands don't work reliably enough most of the time and, as you say, add the increasing frustration of repeatedly trying things and cursing at Siri or Google.

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Re:Apple CarPlay, Android Auto distract drivers more than po... by viburnum on Saturday March 21, 2020 @12:00PM (#22647424)

If I try to do voice commands while driving my field of vision narrows to a pinprick.

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Re:Apple CarPlay, Android Auto distract drivers more than po... by scarejunba on Saturday March 21, 2020 @03:31PM (#22649218)

Hey I've noticed this too. It's like I'm mentally somewhere else. Very odd. Fortunately, when I drive long distances I have other people in the car. And when I drive short distances, I can just stop wherever and change things.

Honestly, on 101 and 280 I see drivers texting all the time and they're driving right in the lane, no problems at all except being slow to react to what happens in front of them (which makes it obvious they're on the phone). I don't know how they do it. Even glancing down at my phone instead of the center console loses so much state.

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Re:Apple CarPlay, Android Auto distract drivers more than po... by catalogia on Saturday March 21, 2020 @09:45PM (#22651957)

I don't use voice commands but neither do I use the screen. I have my navigation app on my phone speak to me using text-to-speech while my phone is screen-down in the center console. When I need to input something I either have the passenger do it, or I find someplace to pull over.

Pulling over to make changes may not be the most convenient, but I think for me at least, it's safest.

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