Anestimated 73.4 million people will be using wearable technologiesin the United States by 2022.
Wearables are smart electronics that can be worn on different parts of the body.
The most popular smart rig is the smartwatch.
Safety while using a smartwatch use is an issue for both smartwatch users and those around them.
One in six Americansowns a smartwatch that they use at least once a month.
Distracted driving
Reduced reaction times and driver distractioncontribute to traffic accidents.
CTV’s Your Morning discusses whether a smartwatch poses a driving distraction.
In short, its dangerous to use a smartwatch while driving.
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Driving distractions are not limited to problems outside of a motor vehicle.
In the U.S., in 2017 alone,3,166 people were killed on roads due to distracted driving.
Over 90 per cent of road accidentshappen due to human error these accidents can be prevented.
Smartwatches are often nota part of this restriction.
Our findings were published inAccident, Analysis & Prevention.
These distractions, including voice assist for drivers, were compared by how the drivers reacted.
Our study placed 31 drivers into one of four possible simulated driving situations.
The drivers had to answer these alerts vocally.
We found that smartwatches were more distracting to drivers than mobile phones, while voice assistants were less distracting.
As well, drivers were more distracted by written alerts than alerts given to them by voice.
Overall, smartwatches do have a negative effect on an individuals ability to drive safely.
We also found that the safer way to both send and receive alerts was by voice.
These results are important for the public and policymakers.
Insurance companies will have a better understanding of circumstances surrounding claims when the specifics of drivers behavior are considered.
