Thread by @DavidZipper

Flashy, complicated infotainment systems are creating a growing safety risk. And it's likely to get worse.

A 🧵 about my investigation, in @Slate
slate.com/business/2021/…

Why worry about infotainment systems? They’re harmless and fun, right?

Well, not necessarily. A study by the AAA Foundation found that rerouting a destination can distract a driver for up to 40 seconds—enough time to cover half a mile at 50 mph.
newsroom.aaa.com/2017/10/new-ve…

Even if a driver uses voice commands, systems often require looking at a car's touchscreen (and not the road) to verify accuracy. That’s inherently risky.

Worse, carmakers eager to differentiate their “driving experience” are adding all kinds of bells and whistles.

Example: BMW claims its infotainment system can read hand gestures (multiple vehicle owners told me this system makes frequent errors).

Or look at the Tesla touchscreen (itself a step backward for safety, compared with haptic feedback of knobs and dials).

Videos online show people surfing the web while driving.

How many of the USA’s 38k+ annual traffic deaths are due to infotainment?

There’s no way to know, bc we lack reliable data. @NHTSAgov blames distraction (including cellphones) for ~10% of fatalities. But that's likely low (post-crash, many drivers won't admit to distraction).

What we *do* know is that infotainment is basically unregulated in the USA.

In 2013 @NHTSAgov issued guidance about maximum levels of distraction created by a vehicle’s system, but automakers often exceed those (voluntary) standards.

nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nt…

New NTSB chair @JenniferHomendy told me that today's infotainment designs vary so widely that drivers get confused: “They’re all so different. There has to be standardization.”

She also suggests that NHTSA add infotainment distraction to its outdated NCAP crash test ratings.

Worryingly, infotainment systems will grow more alluring as ADAS removes traditional driving tasks (like changing lanes).

Drivers are supposed to remain focused on the road, but the temptation to fiddle with infotainment instead will only grow.

Of course, driver distraction from infotainment -- or anything else -- won't be a problem if/when we have fully autonomous vehicles.

But…don’t hold your breath for that.
vox.com/recode/2020/9/…

Notably, everyone I talked to agreed that infotainment can create major risks, but many said “my group is now more focused on autonomous driving.”

If we want to reduce traffic fatalities (now at a 15-yr high) we can’t wait for AVs to be a deus ex machina.
reuters.com/world/us/us-tr…

Thanks to all those who helped me put the pieces together, including those at @IIHS_autosafety, @autosinnovate, @ConsumerReports, @AAAFoundation1, and @NTSB (plus many others, both on and off the record).

Excellent point here

https://twitter.com/laura_e_alex/status/1435304978567110665

A few comments note that infotainment screens have grown much larger.

Counterintuitively, larger screens might actually be safer (easier to find & reach the desired function).

More troubling IMO: Layered menus requiring multiple steps, and removal of buttons/knobs w screens.