Ford is making “bold moves” this summer when it rolls out the MyFord Touch, a high-tech dashboard for multimedia, navigation, and Internet capabilities. Two features of the MyFord Touch system are the ability to make your car into a WiFi hotspot and HD radio with iTunes tagging support. The design replicates a traditional dashboard, but everything is interconnected. Information is displayed on a pair of 4.2” full-color LCD screens on either side of an analog speedometer with five-way navigation buttons on either side of the steering wheel making it easy to navigate different options. An 8” touch screen LCD at the top of the center console is the centerpiece of phone, navigation, climate, and audio/entertainment features.
Much of MyFord Touch is voice activated; in theory, this should prevent “looking down” while driving. On the other hand, touch screens require a certain amount of concentration on the part of the user. In a moving vehicle, any diversion can quickly become a safety hazard. Some may argue that the smart design eliminates the need for the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel; but, what about the eyes? Aren’t they equally, or more, important while driving? Ford says the system can respond almost entirely through verbal commands. Simply talk to your Ford and it will make calls, play songs, etc. You can hear stocks, emails, tweets, and texts. I am sure that these verbal commands are intended to improve driver safety. Let’s be honest, though; these are still distractions. The driver’s natural instinct is to push buttons; this ‘habit’ is already engrained in many drivers who use cell phones and text, on a regular basis, while driving.
Is it time to embrace these technological advances or express concern for driver, passenger and opposing vehicle safety? Watch this video and notice the number of buttons and screens. Ford opens the video with this disclaimer:
Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control. Only use mobile phones and other device even with voice controls when it is safe to do so.
Doesn’t this statement imply that Ford believes the MyFord Touch could cause a driver to be distracted? Do we need more distractions while driving? Instead of adding controls to our vehicles, is it time to control unnecessary distractions? Is it time to concentrate on driving rather than these business and entertainment tools that distract us from concentrating on what the automobile was invented for? To get us, as safely as possible, from our starting point to our destination?
Lawsuit Financial strongly encourages everyone to reconsider mobile phone use, texting, and engaging in other activities that would require you to take your eyes off the road and/or hands off the wheel, while driving. Your concentration is directed elsewhere and that could be dangerous. Mobile phones, iPods, Blackberrys, texting and internet viewing are dangerous activities when combined with operating a two-ton piece of equipment at high speed toward opposing traffic. If you must use these important connection or business tools in your car, pull off the road to do so. This will only take a few minutes of your valuable time, but might assure that you have valuable time in your future lifespan.
Lawsuit Financial is a strong supporter of restrictions on those vehicle options that create driver distractions. As one of he country’s most experienced auto accident lawsuit funding companies, we have seen, first hand, the devastating injuries that use of these devices while driving can cause. We finance personal injury litigation all over the country and we have seen a huge increase in accidents caused by these types of distractions. While strategic lawsuit funding may help you achieve a better result in your personal injury litigation, we prefer that you avoid getting injured or injuring someone else in the first instance. Eliminating or, at least, limiting the use of these types of devices will go a long way to preventing accidental injuires on our nation’s roads. Please comment below; let us know what you think.
