Λίγο μετά την παρουσίαση του Apple iWatch, το Institute of Advanced Motorists της Αγγλίας, προειδοποιεί όποιον ακούει για τους κινδύνους που εμπεριέχει η χρήση του gadget κατά την οδήγηση. Λέει ότι μπορεί να “επηρεάσει σημαντικά την οδηγική ικανότητα” και να αποδειχθεί “περισπασμός” που ενδεχομένως να οδηγήσει σε ατυχήματα.
Ο οργανισμός, ισχυρίζεται πως οι “διαρκείς ειδοποιήσεις θα απαιτούν την προσοχή των οδηγών” ενώ τονίζουν το ότι σε αντίθεση με το συμβατικό hands-free, για τη λειτουργία του iWatch, χρειάζονται και τα δύο χέρια με ότι αυτό συνεπάγεται για την προσοχή του οδηγού και την ικανότητα/δυνατότητα αντίδρασης.
Είναι αλήθεια πως οι νομοθέτες πρέπει να προσαρμοστούν στην πρόοδο της τεχνολογίας, είτε αυτή λέγεται Apple iWatch είτε Google Glass. Ωστόσο, το Αγγλικό Υπουργείο Μεταφορών, αντέδρασε έγκαιρα στη συγκεκριμένη τεχνολογία και διευκρίνισε πως η χρήση ενός smartwatch κατά την οδήγηση, επιφέρει την ίδια ποινή με την χρήση κινητού τηλεφώνου.
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APPLE iWATCH TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIR DRIVING PERFORMANCE, SAYS THE IAM
Leading road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is warning drivers about the potential risks associated with smart watches while driving.
The latest piece of wearable technology from Apple will allow users to make and receive calls, check their messages and monitor their health by operating the device on their wrists. However, the IAM warns that this could significantly impair driving performance – being a major cause for distraction and road accidents.
Existing research conducted by the IAM simulator study on smartphone use between 2006 and 2010 found distraction from a mobile phone was a contributory factor in 1,960 road accidents which resulted in injuries; this figure includes 110 fatal accidents. Having a wristwatch linked to users’ mobile phone only suggests a higher proportion of drivers’ performance will be significantly impaired.
Constant alerts will require motorists’ regular attention. As opposed to using a legal hands-free piece of equipment the iWatch will require drivers to use two hands to operate the device – impacting speed, lane position and time spent looking at the road.
The Department for Transport has announced that using an iWatch while driving will carry the same penalty as using a hand-held mobile phone of three license penalty points and a £100 fine. As per the Crown Prosecution guidelines, however, where a motorist uses a mobile phone causing death by dangerous driving a harsher sentence of two years imprisonment is enforced.
Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research said: “An iWatch has the potential to be just as distracting as any other smartphone device. Indeed more so if you have to take your hand off the wheel and your eyes off the road to interact with it.
“Enforcement will be difficult for the police, but powers exist to seize and interrogate devices in the event of a serious crash. The very device that distracted you also has the power to convict you.”
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