New technologies have made driving more convenient and safer in the past decade, but some innovations have increased the risk of car accidents. Technology isn’t just putting us at risk on the road; it’s also making us less safe at home. There are many benefits, but there are also some risks:
Distraction
One of the most obvious is a distraction. People have become so dependent on their phones and other devices that they can’t seem to put them down. Many people feel like they’re missing something if they don’t have their phones with them at all times. If you have been hurt in an accident because someone was using their phone while driving, it’s essential to know your legal rights and contact a lawyer to help you in proving the negligence in a distracted driving accident. Some of the activities that result in distraction on the road are:
Use of social media
People post videos of themselves on social media while driving with their phones in hand or even holding them up to the car window to get the perfect selfie angle. Many people have been caught taking selfies while driving, and this is because they don’t realize how dangerous it is to do both at once. This is extremely dangerous because it takes your attention off the road and puts it on yourself instead. Now imagine that same scenario, but instead of being behind the wheel of a car, you’re behind an airplane’s controls — just as dangerous! Also, drivers can now use their smartphones as dash cams to record what happens during an accident or collision event, which means that they could be more likely to document an accident instead of trying to avoid one altogether (which would be better for both parties involved).
Use of the navigation apps
Drivers can now use their smartphones for directions and other navigation purposes, so they don’t have to take their eyes off the road as often as they did in the past. However, this also means they can get lost or distracted more efficiently than ever if their phone battery dies or there’s trouble with GPS reception.
Talking and texting while driving
We all know that talking on a cell phone while driving is a bad idea, but what about texting? Texting and driving are dangerous because our brains can’t multitask as well as they think they can. When driving, our brains focus solely on driving — not what’s happening at home, work, or with friends and family. Even talking on the phone takes up some of our brainpower to keep up with two activities simultaneously.
Over-reliance on automotive systems
Driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning systems can be valuable tools when used correctly. Drivers may become overly reliant on these systems and forget to pay attention to what’s happening around them. Automatic emergency braking systems (EBS) are designed to help prevent rear-end collisions when vehicles brake suddenly or stop without warning. While these systems can reduce crash rates in some instances, they may cause accidents if drivers rely too much on them instead of paying attention to what’s happening around them.
