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Health & Fitness

The Growth of the Connected Car

Motorists will soon have the capacity to browse the Web and get Facebook updates on in-car navigation screens. Consider how distracted the driver would be watching an amusing YouTube video.

New cars such as the Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, and the Audi A6 allow travellers to connect to the Internet from the front seat. These Online connections over Wi-Fi or 3G networks allow motorists to enjoy streaming video, audio, spoken text messages, and current traffic information. We typically view tech advancements as a positive. But connectivity in the car begs a major question: Is this the best thing?

Challenges of the Connected Car

Drivers get distracted and this can result in accidents. In fact, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 80 percent of all accidents involve driver inattention within 3 seconds of the impact. So, this being true, consider how distracted the driver would be if there is an amusing YouTube video playing on an in-car screen.

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Does Tech Distract Drivers?

Drivers ought to focus on the road. Whatever takes their focus from it—whether it’s chomping down on a fast-food burger or searching for traffic information—can lead to potentially fatal accidents. That’s why the news that cars are on pace to become much more connected is greeted with just as much hesitation as enthusiasm.

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Browsing the Web Inside Your Car

Motorists will soon have the capacity to browse the Web and get Facebook updates on in-car navigation screens. Automobiles might soon include...

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