If you go to buy a new car, the salesperson will try to tempt you to buy specific models by exhorting the host of in-car features they come with. While many of these features can help you stay, some can do quite the opposite.
A few decades ago, your average car came with a radio, a hot and cold air blower and not much more. That allowed you to concentrate on driving. A lot of the modern features distract you. Here are a few examples:
1. Hands-free phone connections
You can now call someone or pick up their call as you drive. Depending on your phone, you may also be able to dictate emails, have messages read to you and much more.
Doing these things without needing to hold your phone is an improvement, but you shouldn’t be doing them at all. All these things cause mental distractions that make driving less safe.
2. Satellite navigation systems
Having a screen to guide you toward your destination can be helpful. Yet you still need to take your eyes away from the road to look at the screen. In the old days, when you used to use a map, you hopefully looked at the map and planned your route before setting off. Then, if you needed to look again, you hopefully pulled over.
Alternatively, you may have had your passengers in charge of map-reading. Nowadays, it is the driver that tends to do it all as they travel and without stopping. They are the ones removing their eyes from the road to look at the screen or taking their hands off the wheel to input a destination or make route adjustments.
If a driver injures you because they were distracted by their in-car features, you need to understand how to claim compensation.