BRISBANE, Australia , Aug. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A survey of more than 1,000 Australian car owners by insurance provider Budget Direct found three-quarters of respondents (75%) believe that car technology can be distracting. The most distracting car technologies included touchscreens, hands-free mobile phones and speech-to-text systems.
Of bigger concern is that over 1 in 10 (16%) reported having either an accident or a close call due to these technological distractions. The survey also showed that not all Aussie drivers are ready for the hands-free driving revolution just yet. Two in five (41%) remain skeptical about fully trusting automatic systems like lane correction or pedestrian protection.
Budget Direct’s Chief Growth Officer, Jonathan Kerr , said new, advanced technologies are becoming more available in mid- and lower-range cars. “Once luxury features like adaptive cruise control and massaging seats are now enjoyed by increasing numbers of Aussies,” he said. The public’s fear of car technology changes, however, when Australians think about technological features that make cars safer.
“Innovative safety features such as automatic braking and blind spot warnings are more often becoming standard. “The number of cars in Australia has nearly doubled in the last 30 years. Busier roads could be one factor explaining why the latest safety and driver assistance technology are high priority,” Mr Kerr said.
It seems drivers agree with nearly two-thirds (64%) say.