Many of the distractions drivers deal with are aids for the driver. For example, the Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) or navigation systems could truly be giving the driver valid warnings of problems in the roadway ahead or efficient ways to drive somewhere. The only problem with these devices is the driver has to enter information into them. When your car is parked in a safe place out of the flow of traffic then entering this information is not a problem. However, many drivers enter this information while they are driving taking not only their eyes but their hands off the wheel as well. To show the danger of this distraction all we have to do is think about the Two Second Rule. If we use that minimum following distance, then we are only allowing ourselves a ½ second for our eyes to be focused on something other than driving. These PDA or navigation systems beg us to look away for longer than a ½ second. So, these devices can certainly increase the possibility of having a collision because we simply did not see the danger coming.
Radios or car stereos or systems, as you call them, provide all kinds of distractions for the driver. Today's radio creates all three types of the distractions we mentioned earlier: manual, cognitive, and visual. Current car stereos create far more visual distractions than earlier radios found in cars. Radios in cars started around 1927 and complaints about them distracting drivers followed soon thereafter. So, what are the real effects the radio has on the driver? The manual distraction effect has been greatly reduced because some car makers put the volume and radio station controls on the steering wheel. Other car stereo systems reduce the manual distraction problem by actually having a remote control to help limit the drivers need to move his body, which can possibly move the steering wheel away from its intended position. Next comes the issue of the radio being a cognitive distraction. This concern is very real. Think about the number of times you have been listening to a song and just sort of got carried away. And this led to you not concentrating on whatever you were doing. You simply cannot let this happen when you are driving. However, the radio could bring you critical information about driving, anything from traffic collisions ahead to closed road information or maybe bad weather warnings that could save your life. Radios today also seem to be extremely guilty of being a visual distraction. Do not let the blinking lights and small computer screens found on these radios distract you. You are the one in charge. Radios provide distractions to the driver but they can also be extremely helpful. Be sure to know the difference.