More and more cars are appearing that permit people to be connected to the Web from the front seat via Wi-Fi or 3G networks.  The Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, and Audi A6 are all instances of this. With these connections people will be able to stream videos, get up-to-the-minute traffic information, in addition to speak their text messages. These things all sound good, and we generally greet technological advancements with open arms but this make us ask the question: Is full connectivity in a moving vehicle a good thing?

Challenges of the Connected Car

People get sidetracked when they text or chat on their phones while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that 80 % of traffic accidents involve driver inattention within 3 seconds of the crash. So, if basic cell phone use is a distraction imagine what it would be like if an individual is video Skyping with their closest friend while driving or watching that funny Super Bowl advertisement.

Does Tech Distract Drivers?

Clearly drivers should focus on driving, and many things like eating, talking on their phone, even talking to a companion inside the car can be a distraction. These distractions can result in serious accidents. This reason is in part why the very idea of having more connected cars doesn’t necessarily make people jump for joy.

Browsing the Web Inside Your Car

Motorists will soon be able to browse the Web and receive Facebook updates on in-car navigation screens. Automobiles might soon come with short-range communication systems that will enable cars to connect to each other and to the infrastructure on which they are driving. This will send real-time road conditions along with other information to drivers.

As we said before, we usually think of advancements in technology as a great thing, however, the potential negative impacts that connected cars could have make us stop and think. While having all of these tech features in our cars boosts enjoyment on the road it’s important that they don’t become a disruption to the driver.