Driven to distraction
Distracted drivers are responsible for around 1600 Crashes in NSW every year, according to police.
That figure is double what it was ten years ago and the cause of the accident is often in-car technology.
Research now shows that, as hands-free devices and dashboard infotainment becomes commonplace, the chances of being killed increase also.
The technology is meant to keep our eyes, and mind, on the road.
Now, American researchers have examined brain patterns, reaction times and driver behaviour.
The more interaction the system requires the greater the chance of distraction, the research finds.
Andrew McKellar, CEO of the Australian Automobile Association, said: If that were translated to Australia, it would mean that we would risk somewhere in the order of an extra 90 to 100 fatalities in Australia each year.
The US research ranked Toyotas in-car interface as the least distracting, but that is not available here.
Listening to the radio is a low category distraction, but it increases if we listen to email, or if we try to dictate a text.
The distraction rises to three or four if we try talking to a computer-generated voice.
The researchers found Apple's siri voice-activated system is highly distracting at a rating of 4.1 out of five.
Dr David Strayer, a University of Utah researcher, said: It's more mentally demanding to talk to a computer or talk to your car than it would be to talk to a person in the car.
It is another technology, cars that drive themselves, that may be our best hope of total safety.
Mr McKellar added: When that occurs, then obviously it will greatly improve safety.
