Scientists are 'troubled' by new car technology that distracts drivers

The bright touchscreens and other technology being squeezed into the dashboards of new cars certainly look cool, but scientists have found that it also takes drivers' eyes off the road for dangerously long periods of time.

Researchers at the University of Utah stepped into over 30 new cars to measure how much time a driver spends looking at their screens, not the road. They completed the study in partnership with the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, and found that even common touchscreen tasks distracted drivers for more than 24 seconds.

For reference, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles the risk of a crash. The worst culprits were navigation tasks, which distracted drivers for up to 40 seconds.  Read more...