The Hassle of Hands Free Car Tech

While were all happy to have new technology our cars, some of the things that were beginning to take for granted may need a second look.

One of these is hands-free car technology. While this allows us to do great things like control our stereo make phone calls and more, there are beginning to come to light some situations where this has been proven to be unsafe.

This is been driven in part by new laws that evolved over the past few years making use of cell phones illegal while driving a car. What we are now finding out that hands-free technology does not always work correctly and can also be very distracting.

Someday, cars may drive themselves. But first car makers must convince consumers their automobiles can handle simpler tasks on their own—like changing the radio station or making a phone call.

The auto industry’s record run of 50 million cars recalled this year has highlighted defects with mechanical systems such as ignition switches, fuel pumps and air bags. Looking ahead, the industry faces equally difficult challenges from digital issues.

A technology originally seen as making driving safer is now under scrutiny for the troubles it is causing. Voice-activated command systems and their software often are badly outdated or unreliable, leading to a tide of customer complaints and research questioning how safe they really are.

Car makers rushed to adopt voice recognition systems as regulators, concerned about distracted driving, called for bans on using hand-held devices behind the wheel. Use of handsets while driving is illegal in 14 states; use of “hands-free” voice controls, meanwhile, is generally encouraged.

Voice control, however, can be extremely buggy and the struggle to get them to work can cause a driver to miss traffic hazards. A recent study conducted by the University of Utah found some voice command systems could be four times more distracting than simply driving. The Hassle of Hands Free Car Tech – WSJ

You can also read The Hassle of Hands Free Car Tech on E-Z Transport.