A recent study by AAA suggests in-car chaos created by dashboard displays and smart phones are fundamentally unsafe. This study piggybacks onto the previous year’s study and added specific new cars as offenders. All so-called Infotainment systems are not created equal in that some required “very high” demand from drivers including the BMW 430i xDrive convertible, The Buick Enclave Leather and the Nissan Rogue SV. Even the cars that did well in the study, like the Chevy Silverado and Kia Sportage, require a moderate amount of demand. The study concluded it doesn’t really matter whether or not you can mind-meld Siri into the dash of whatever you drive. Infotainment systems are still not safe at any speed.
The research shows that highway fatalities hit their peak in 1972 and this was at the height of the “Unsafe At Any Speed” era when they topped out in excess of 54,000. Since that time the number of fatal accidents have slowly declined and eventually dropped to just over 32,000 in 2011. The 32,000 number is the lowest number since the 1940s. Then they started to rise again. Between 2014 and 2015, fatalities rose by ten percent. By 2016, they had risen to over 37,000.
What changed between 2011 and 2016 to cause the increase? Was it quality of automotive safety systems? No and in fact they’ve improved. Was the increase due to some states raising their speed limits? No. Did people suddenly drink and drive more often and crash? The facts show otherwise. The differentiating factor comes down to in-car technology. Some people who drive older cars frequently use their phones while they drive for things other than talking. Many people who drive older cars live on their phones while they drive. Many people who drive newer cars have the ability to integrate their phones with their cars and some can use their phone while playing with complicated tablet displays. It appears these infotainment systems are causing the increase in highway fatalities.
Solutions to this problem seem simultaneously obvious and impossible. Police must do a better job of enforcing distracted-driving laws and the populace needs to apply peer pressure to accomplish the same goal. People need to get off the tech and focus on the road. Soon, but not soon enough, the computer will take over everything so we can play with our infotainment systems while on the freeway. Until that time we should all remain aware and vigilant at all times when we are behind the wheel of a car. This study by AAA proves that others aren’t paying attention.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when they refuse to follow the law. We help with serious issues that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth. We have over 80 years of experience in our plaintiff’s only law firm. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We Can Help!
