Auto phone systems, Apple Siri distract drivers, studies say

By: Jerry Hirsch

In many cars, making a hands-free phone call can be more distracting than picking up your phone, according to a new study from AAA and the University of Utah.

In-dash phone systems are overly complicated and prone to errors, the study found, and the same is true for voice-activated functions for music and navigation.

A companion study also found that trying to use Siri — the voice control system on Apple phones — while driving was dangerously distracting. Two participants in the study had virtual crashes in an automotive simulator while attempting to use Siri, the study's authors reported.

We already know that drivers can miss stop signs, pedestrians and other cars while using voice technologies," said Bob Darbelnet, chief executive of AAA. "We now understand that current shortcomings in these products, intended as safety features, may unintentionally cause greater levels of cognitive distraction."

The studies measured cognitive distraction — the mental workload required of a task — as opposed to the visual distraction, caused by drivers taking their eyes off the road, or physical distraction, such as reaching for a cellphone or brushing hair. The researchers used special test vehicles, heart-rate monitors and other equipment to measure how much mental distraction the systems generated. The systems were rated on a five-point scale, with five representing the most distracting.

Chevrolet's MyLink system, which the researchers tested in a 2013 Chevy Cruz Eco, scored the worst of the six systems from auto manufacturers.

It generated a distraction rating of 3.7 on the study's scoring protocol — compared with 2.45 for a hand-held cellphone. Three of the other systems rated as more distracting than a hand-held phone: Chrysler's UConnect System, 2.7; Ford's Sync with MyFord Touch system, 3.0; and Mercedes' Command system, 3.1.

Only Toyota's Entune, at 1.7, and Hyundai BlueLink, 2.2, scored better.

But the report doesn't recommend using a hand-held cellphone, either.

"The primary task should be driving. Things that take your attention away make you a poor driver," said University of Utah psychology professor and study leader David Strayer. "Even though your car may be configured to support social media, texting and phone calls, it doesn't mean it is safe to do so."

The voice-based systems distracted drivers because they are too complex and made too many errors in recognizing voice commands, according to the research.

"Drivers were cursing the systems out," Strayer says. "If you want to buy one of these cars, make sure you can actually use the voice-based technology before you leave the lot."

Automakers discounted the findings, noting that the research did not document that cognitive distraction leads to crashes. Conversely, physical activities, such as reaching for a phone, texting or reading emails while driving do create distractions that cause collisions.

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study released last year concluded that physical and visual distractions triple the risk of crashes.

That's why Chevrolet installs a voice-command system and steering wheel button controls in its vehicles, said Annalisa Bluhm, a GM spokeswoman.

"We feel that hands on the wheel and eyes on the road is critical to safe vehicle operation," Bluhm said.

Toyota said the study did not show a link between cognitive distraction and car crashes.

"The results actually tell us very little about the relative benefits of in-vehicle versus hand-held systems; or about the relationship between cognitive load and crash risks," said Mike Michels, a Toyota spokesman.

Still, Toyota said it supported AAA's commitment to studying the cognitive demands of various tasks and helping prevent distracted driving incidents. The automaker said it was pleased to score well in the study.

The study of cognitive distraction is still evolving, said AAA spokeswoman Nancy White.

"However, with more than 3,000 people killed a year due to driver distraction, it's what we don't know about distraction that should be of concern," White said.

White noted that the research proves that automakers and phone-makers can and should design systems that are less complex and more intuitive — and safer.

Siri was notable for producing "different responses to seemingly identical commands," the researchers wrote.

In some instances, the Apple system required exact phrases to accomplish a specific task. It wouldn't understand subtle deviations from that phrasing. It also required drivers to start over when it made a dictation error in a message, because it offered no way to edit.

"Siri also made mistakes such as calling someone other than the desired person from the phone contact list," the study said. "Some participants also reported frustration with Siri's sarcasm and wit."

Apple said the study did not test CarPlay or Siri Eyes Free, which the company has designed for drivers to access features and apps they want in the car with minimized distraction. However, CarPlay is a new system that is just rolling out in some 2015 model year cars. Siri Eyes Free also is fairly new, only widely available in some car brands starting in the 2014 model year.

Cities With The Best -- And Worst -- Drivers

By: Jim Gorzelany

Auto safety is a two-way street, so to speak. No matter what kind of vehicle one drives and how prudent one is while operating it, the likelihood of getting into an accident often depends upon the carefulness or recklessness of other motorists.

Maybe it’s a cultural thing, or it has something to do with the environment, but statistics suggest some areas of the U.S. inherently breed more cautious drivers, while others tend to spawn some of the most accident-prone motor-vehicle operators on the road.

If auto safety is your number one vehicular priority, be sure to choose a model that aces all the applicable crash-test ratings, comes with a full array of safety features (including the latest accident avoidance hardware), and move to Ft. Collins, CO, which boasts the safest drivers in the nation according to the annual America’s Best Driver’s Report conducted by Allstate Insurance Co. in Northbrook, IL. Those living in Ft. Collins go an average 14.2 years between accidents, with traffic incidents 29.6 less likely to occur than the national average of once every 10 years.

Of the ten cities having the statistically safest motorists, most tend to be located in the heartland of America, with Alabama (Huntsville and Montgomery) and Texas (Brownsville and Laredo) each placing two cities among the best drivers list.

On the other hand, you might want to pack up the SUV and head for greener pastures if you live in Worcester, MA, which can lay claim to having the worst drivers in America. Worcesterites (or whatever they call themselves) tend to become involved in an auto accident once every 4.3 years, which makes them 134.8 percent more liable to crash their cars than the average American.

All but one of the 10 cities having the most accident-afflicted motorists are located in the Northeast, with Boston and Washington, DC – not coincidentally two cities that perennially place at or near the top of worst-traffic lists – rounding out the top three.

Now that doesn’t necessarily mean that the funeral homes along the Eastern seaboard are busier than in areas having statistically safer drivers. According to Allstate’s stats, 70 percent of vehicles involved in collisions are subsequently drivable, which would indicate they occur at lower speeds (under 35 mph). Still, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 33,500 fatalities occur on U.S. roadways each year, which is indeed serious business.

New to Allstate’s America’s Best Drivers Report this year is the inclusion of how cities rank when factors such as population, city density and rain/snowfall are considered. According to those factors, the safest burgs in the nation are Kansas City, MO, the aforementioned Fort Collins and Brownsville, TX, respectively. By those same measures the worst drivers can be found living in, that’s right, Worchester, MA, which sits firmly at the top (or should we say bottom) of all four lists. Here’s a link to the full results for each of the 200 cities studied.

“A big part of our job at Allstate is to help our customers prevent bad things from happening. With that in mind, our actuaries reviewed millions of records to develop this year’s report which presents new data to equip them with better driving awareness tools,” says Mike Roche, Allstate’s executive vice president of claims. “Allstate is showing drivers that factors like population, a city’s density and precipitation may contribute to their driving safety to reveal important lessons on the road.”

Here’s the top 10 list of cities having the safest drivers, according to Allstate’s 2014 Best Driver’s Report:

1. Ft. Collins, CO: 14.2 years between accidents, 29.6% less likely to get in an accident.
2. Brownsville, TX: 14.2 years between accidents, 29.5% less likely to get in an accident.
3. Boise, ID: 14.0 years between accidents, 28.4% less likely to get in an accident.
4. Kansas City, MO: 12.9 years between accidents, 22.4% less likely to get in an accident.
5. Huntsville, AL: 12.6 years between accidents, 20.3% less likely to get in an accident.
6. Montgomery, AL: 12.4 years between accidents, 19.4% less likely to get in an accident.
7. Visalia, CA: 12.4 years between accidents, 19.1% less likely to get in an accident.
8. Laredo, TX: 12.2 years between accidents, 18.3% less likely to get in an accident.
9. Madison, WI: 12.2 years between accidents, 17.8% less likely to get in an accident.
10. Olathe, KS: 12.1 years between accidents, 17.5% less likely to get in an accident.

And here’s the rogues gallery of the 10 cities having the worst drivers in the nation:

1. Worcester, MA: 4.3 years between accidents, 134.8% more likely to get in an accident.
2. Boston, MA: 4.4 years between accidents, 129.9% more likely to get in an accident.
3. Washington, DC: 5.1 years between accidents, 97.3% more likely to get in an accident.
4. Springfield, MA: 5.4 years between accidents, 85.8% more likely to get in an accident.
5. Providence, RI: 5.4 years between accidents, 85.1% more likely to get in an accident.
6. Baltimore, MD: 5.4 years between accidents, 84.9% more likely to get in an accident.
7. Glendale, CA: 5.8 years between accidents, 72.6% more likely to get in an accident.
8. Alexandria, VA: 5.9 years between accidents, 68.2% more likely to get in an accident.
9. Philadelphia, PA: 6.2 years between accidents, 61.2% more likely to get in an accident.
10. New Haven, CT: 6.3 years between accidents, 59.1% more likely to get in an accident.

The Fine Print: Allstate’s America’s Best Drivers Report is based on the frequency of property collision claims made by Allstate-insured drivers in the nation’s 200 largest cities from 2011-2012. Results are provided for information purposes only, Allstate says, and are not used to determine auto insurance rates. Population and city density considerations were based on U.S. Census Bureau data, while National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data was consulted for the rain/snowfall component.

Take That Mother Nature

By Jim Gorzelany
CTW Feature

It's that time of the year again. Time to shop for a new coat or a pair of boots to help block winter's icy chill outdoors, and install the storm windows and stuff up the cracks to keep things toasty indoors. Importantly, this is also time to ensure that one's faithful car or truck is able to withstand the effects of Jack Frost nipping at its proverbial nose.
Mechanically inclined individuals can often perform the necessary checks and preparations themselves, though it may pay to have an older car-especially one that's already exhibiting symptoms of age like hard starting or sluggish acceleration- checked out by a technician before the mercury plummets. As is the case with our own age-related ailments, the cold weather makes a vehicle's mechanical problems worse, and moving the family's fleet of cars to Florida or Arizona for the winter isn't much of an option.
Otherwise, here's a simple checklist of inspections and procedures that can help ensure one's car or truck is well prepared to handle the worst Old Man Winter has to offer:

• Inspect the battery and ensure the cable connections are tight and that the terminals are free from corrosion -  if you see a white powder at the contacts, clean them off with a wire brush. If the battery is several years old, consider buying a new one as a preventive measure
• Flush the radiator and fill it with a 50/50 percent mixture of coolant and water, especially if it's been two or more years since this was last performed. At the least, test its antifreeze protection level with an inexpensive tester that' sold at any auto parts store or have a technician perform this checks; if it tests low, have the system flushed and refilled.
• Change the engine oil and oil filter, and check brakes, transmission and power steering fluid levels, topping off as necessary. Have the engine's air and fuel filters changed according to the manufacturer's service interval, or as otherwise required, and likewise have belts and hoses checked out to ensure they're not cracked or frayed.
• Replace the windshield wipers, and top off the washer fluid reservoir; buy a spare jug of fluid to keep in the trunk, as it tends to run out quickly in messy weather.
• Visually inspect the vehicle's tires for uneven and excessive tread wear. Tires are manufactured with warning bars that appear in the grooves of the tires when they have 2/32 inches of tire tread remaining; if you see them, have the tires replaced (or stick a penny head-first into the tread; if you can see the top of Lincoln's head it's time for a change). Uneven tread wear usually means the front end is out of alignment, one or more suspension components is worn out or the tires are improperly inflated.
• Speaking of which, check the tires' air pressure frequently using a good-quality air gauge and keep the tires inflated according to the automaker's recommendations. Air pressure in a tire typically decreases by 1-to-2 pounds for every 10 degrees of temperature change.
• Swap so-called "summer" high-performance tires, if your car is so equipped, for a set of all-seasons radials that will afford necessary traction on wet or snowy roads. Those driving rear-drive cars in snowy areas should consider having a set of mud and snow tires installed on the drive wheels.
• Finally, if you're driving an electric car, be aware that its operating range could diminish dramatically along with a precipitous drop in temperature, and plan trips accordingly to avoid being stranded by a depleted battery. According to the AAA Automotive Research Center in Southern California, its maximum miles on a charge could diminish by as much as 57 percent depending on the ambient temperature.

The Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle

Even the techies at Popular Science like the Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV). The magazine named the sedan to a 2014 Best of What’s New winner in the auto category.

“For 27 years, Popular Science has honored the innovations that surprise and amaze us − those that make a positive impact on our world today and challenge our view of what's possible in the future,” said Cliff Ransom, Editor-in-Chief of Popular Science. “The Best of What's New Award is the magazine's top honor, and the 100 winners − chosen from among thousands of entrants − each a revolution in its field.”

The Toyota FCV: Technology at a Glance

What is it? The FCV is an all-electric, four-door sedan that makes its own electricity on board.  It utilizes the same hybrid technology developed for Toyota’s hybrid synergy drive systems but replaces the gasoline engine with a fuel cell stack.

How does it work? The FCV features hydrogen fuel tanks (the hydrogen is a compressed gas, similar to a natural gas vehicle), an electric motor, a fuel cell stack, a small battery and a power control unit.  The hydrogen gas is fed into the fuel cell stack where it is combined with oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen move through the fuel cell stack and create a chemical reaction, producing electricity to power the vehicle. 

What’s the benefit? It takes less than five minutes to refuel. It has a range of 300 miles. And the only emission from the tailpipe is water vapor. 

What’s next? The Toyota FCV hits the streets of California in late 2015.  Hydrogen refueling stations are popping up across the state and Toyota continues to partner with industry and government to support the continued growth of infrastructure in California and beyond. 

Toyota FCV Gets a Name (Mirai) and a Price (in the U.S.)

Aside from its potential implications for both the auto industry and the environment, as Toyota’s first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai is still a car.

And as such, Toyota announced a few important details Monday during the car’s launch in Newport Beach, Calif.

First, as you may have read above, it’s got a name! Mirai is the Japanese word for “future,” and it serves as a clever nod to Toyota’s last revolutionary drivetrain. Now we know what “Prius” – Latin for “to come before” – was leading up to.

But perhaps even more interesting than the name was the announcement that the Mirai would sell in the United States for $57,500, not including government incentives. In some areas, customers can purchase the Mirai for less than $45,000 after state and federal incentives. Further, Toyota is offering a three-year, $499 per month lease with $3,649 down.

Mirai customers will enjoy an extensive 360-degree Ownership Experience that includes free hydrogen fuel for up to three years. Other benefits include:

• 24/7 concierge service, with calls answered by a dedicated fuel cell representative. 
• 24/7 enhanced roadside assistance, including towing, battery, flat tire assistance, trip interruption reimbursement, and loaner vehicle.
• Three years of Toyota Care maintenance, covering all recommended factory maintenance, up to 12,000 miles annually.
• Eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on fuel cell components.
• Entune and three years of complimentary Safety Connect, including hydrogen station map app.

Mirai will be available to customers in California beginning in fall 2015, with additional markets tracking the expansion of a convenient hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

For much more on the Mirai, click here: http://toyota.us/1oZDozf

TeenDrive365 Continues to Evolve

TeenDrive365 keeps getting bigger and better.

Toyota’s program designed to help teach new drivers and their parents about the dangers of distracted driving just updated its website to include fun educational videos and animated GIFs.

The driving simulator – which will be making its rounds at auto shows this season – has also improved and now uses Oculus Rift virtual reality technology.

TeenDrive365’s new resources include:

·         An online commercial dubbed “Parents Who Drive Bad Anonymous,” which takes a humorous look at parents’ vices behind the wheel as they commit to being safer drivers for their teens;

·         The “Masters of the Wheel” video series, featuring professional race car driving legends discussing the influential role parents play in teen driver safety;

·         An enhanced in-car distracted driving simulator with Oculus Rift virtual reality technology, which offers parents and teens the latest, most realistic virtual experience around how common distractions impact their ability to remain safe on the road. This marks the first time the Oculus Rift is being used in a driving simulator to educate people about distracted driving.

·         More ways parents and teens can share important safety tips on social media, including animated GIFs and picture-based riddles, which make learning about driving safety fun while informative.

You can start your TeenDrive365 experience by clicking here: www.teendrive365.com