Distracted Driving and Older Drivers

"Voice-command functions found in new in-vehicle technology are intended to help drivers by keeping their eyes and attention on the road," Dr. David Yang, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety executive director, said.

"Unfortunately, the complexity and poor design of some of these systems could cause more harm for older drivers."

According to AAA, by 2030, one in five drivers on the road will be over 65 years old.

When Carla Brown, a 76-year-old driver from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, gets behind her 2018 Ford Expedition wheel, her phone automatically connects to the car. She uses Bluetooth technology to call friends and change the radio station without taking her eyes off the road. However, sometimes, the system doesn't pick up Carla Brown's voice right away.

"It doesn't always understand what I am saying," she says, "That can be a little frustrating."

Nevertheless, audio commands and touchscreens in cars can sometimes frustrate older drivers - they can be downright dangerous. Older drivers are more likely to be distracted while using in-vehicle technology than their younger counterparts, who may send texts while driving, thus being distracted visually, manually, and cognitively. This is according to a report released by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The study showed that when performing simple tasks like programming navigation or tuning the radio, drivers between 55 to 75 years of age took their eyes off the road an average of eight seconds longer than those 21 to 36 years of age.

According to AAA, a nonprofit auto group that provides roadside assistance, taking your eyes off the road for two seconds doubles the risk of crashing. More and more motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers are happening each day.

According to the AAA report, an in-vehicle information system (IVIS) is the collection of features in a vehicle that allows drivers to complete tasks unrelated to driving while operating the car or truck. These systems include voice command options, a screen in the middle of the dashboard, or a rotary wheel in the center console. According to the AAA report, older adults took between 4.7 and 8.6 seconds longer to complete the tasks, responded more slowly to system commands, and experienced visual distractions. Some operating systems have more complex designs than others, including multiple menus and voice command functions that only sometimes work on the first try, which can frustrate older drivers.

"This is a design problem, not an age problem," Jake Nelson, AAA director of traffic safety advocacy and research, said. "Designing systems to meet the safety and comfort needs of aging drivers would benefit all of us today."

AAA recommends that drivers avoid using in-vehicle information systems while on the road unless an emergency occurs. Travelers could also practice using voice command touch screen functions when not driving to become more comfortable with the systems or avoid buying vehicles requiring a center console controller.

Until then, make sure you understand the system in your vehicle thoroughly. Various YouTube videos can be accessed to learn everything you can about the IVIS system in your vehicle. Be aware of taking your eyes off the road, and if you have someone riding with you - have them operate the IVIS system while you drive if needed.

Stay safe, don't text, and use your IVIS system very carefully out there while driving your vehicle!

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