Technology and its advances often get a hard time in the auto world. Many would even argue that a lot of advances have increased distracted driving. And, it’s easy to see the argument from that point of view. It’s now possible to find hours of entertainment on your dashboard.

This seems somewhat counter-intuitive when you consider that we’ve been working to tackle distracted driving for years. We all know by now that even a quick glance at our phones could land us on the wrong side of a motor vehicle litigator in the time it takes to put our foot on the accelerator.  Surely we should be steering clear of distraction instead of inviting it into modern designs?

In reality, though, there is plenty of new tech which can both protect and prevent us from taking our eyes off those lanes. All you need to do is know where to look for it. To help you, we’re going to consider the three main additions which could put road-based distraction behind you for good.

PInto infotainment

For the most part, infotainment systems get hassle for distracted driving. Having a large screen to play with right at arm’s reach is sure to lead to issues for some. But, if you have the right infotainment to hand, the opposite could be true. Some systems, for instance, offer voice commands to save you looking away when you shouldn’t. Others allow you to answer calls hands-free and even read messages to you to keep you from looking. The key here is to look out for infotainment systems which tackle rather than worsen your distraction.

Do not disturb

It doesn’t get much better for tackling distraction than do not disturb technology. These ensure your phone doesn’t prevent you from concentrating by blocking it altogether. The Apple iOS 11, for example, offers a do not disturb while driving feature. This flat out prevents calls or messages when the system detects motion. There are also plenty of driver’s apps which offer the same service, such as CellControl DriveID. If you don’t fancy going entirely off the radar, apps like Drivemode are a fantastic alternative. They read messages aloud for you. If your infotainment system doesn’t already offer this, then, this is the ideal compromise.

Wonderful warnings
The new warning systems in many cars can elevate your ride no end. They can also work wonders as a last distraction resort. Even with your best efforts, the habit of checking your phone may be too ingrained to tackle. In that instance, system warnings can save the day. Many new vehicles have everything from lane departure warnings to forward collision warnings. These ensure that, even if you do relapse, your car can slap you on the wrist. That alert could spell the difference between smooth cruising and ploughing into another vehicle. When you consider that, it hardly seems fair to say that technology isn’t doing its part for distraction. Now, it’s down to us to use it for its intended purpose.