In-car technology causing multiple near-misses
Nearly a third of drivers admit to having a near miss as a result of being distracted by in-car technology.
A survey of 2,000 UK motorists carried out by temporary car insurance provider Tempcover found that 30% admitted that being distracted by in-car technology had caused them to brake suddenly or swerve.
Nine per cent of this number said they had near-misses multiple times as a result of in-car technology.
When asked which single technology was responsible for their most recent near miss, 20% pointed to automated safety features such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, while 15% cited lane keeping assist and lane departure warning. A further 12% said touchscreen dashboard controls were responsible for their most recent near miss.
The research also found that 37% of drivers have switched off driver assistance features, while 62% said they would like car manufacturers to bring back physical buttons and dials.
Claire Wills-McKissick, insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “The data shows most drivers agree that in-car tech makes roads safer, and features like automatic emergency braking and lane assist are designed to do just that.
“At the same time, the data reveals that when drivers don’t feel confident using these systems, many switch them off, and a system that has been disabled isn’t protecting anyone. Bridging that gap will take continued improvement, both in how these technologies develop and in how drivers learn to use them.”
