Are Smartwatches More Distracting Than Smartphones?

The majority of drivers recognize the risk of driving while talking on a cell phone, surfing the web, or texting.

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of fatalities in the United States. Each year, thousands of people are injured and many others are killed in car accidents. Unfortunately, most car accidents are preventable. They are caused by aggressive, distracted, drowsy, or careless drivers. Over the past few years, distracted driving has reached epidemic levels, thanks to the proliferation of cell phones.

Another Source of Distraction

The majority of us recognize that it is extremely risky to drive while talking on a cell phone, surf the web, or texting. In some states, it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving. The state of Missouri bans drivers under the age of 21 from texting and driving. While we focus on cell phones as a source of distraction for drivers, it is also important to identify other technology that can be equally distracting and dangerous. For example, smartwatches are becoming a serious source of distraction.

A study conducted by the United Kingdom’s Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has revealed that it could be more distracting and dangerous for drivers to use smartwatches compared to smartphones. The study found that it takes an average of 2.52 seconds for a driver reading a text on a smartwatch to react to an unexpected situation. On the other hand, it takes 0.9 seconds for a driver speaking to someone in the car and 1.85 seconds for a driver using a smartphone.

Avoid Distracted Driving

If you wear a smartwatch, give extra caution to ensure that it does not distract you while driving. Do not pay attention to the noises and buzzes coming from the watch and focus on the road instead. Remember, even a few seconds of distraction can cause a serious accident. Your smartwatch beep can surely wait a few minutes, so do not let it distract you while you are behind the wheel. (Read – Save Lives, Avoid Distracted Driving)