Personal Injury Law

Auto Accidents - DOES YOUR iPOD HAVE YOU TUNING OUT?

By Steve Lombardi

Researchers have identified strong links between listening to fast-paced music and driving fast and listening to loud music and driving recklessly, both of which correlate with increased accident rates. The iPod is great but until technology catches up to human frailties you need to pay less attention to your tunes and more attention to the traffic.

Our recent posts have centered around one primary issue: driver distractions. We've concluded that cell phones are dangerous because when we listen, our ability to see and react is diminished. We can't help but wonder if music has the same effect? Does hooking up your iPod tune you into the song but out to the road? Does the driver trying to change the 'station' end up being a larger distraction then just changing the radio station?

Unlike a car radio the iPod can be anywhere the cord allows it to go. Even onto the floor. Unlike the car radio the buttons are not push and play. Also the buttons are not easy to locate and to 'push' to operate. The iPod was not designed for a driver, but instead for entertainment and leisure time. It has been adapted for car use. So if you don't have a passenger and don't know how to set up a playlist forget the iPod while driving.

Turns out it does. iPods have been shown to adversely affect drivers' performances. In fact, studies have found that using an iPod while driving is roughly equivalent to using a cell phone; therefore, operating the device while driving significantly increases your risk of being involved in an accident.

And the iPod isn't alone. Israeli researchers have conducted extensive studies and have concluded that all kinds of music prove distracting to drivers. Regardless of genre or type, listening to music makes drivers less alert behind the wheel.

There are countless websites centered on music-related accidents (go ahead - Google "traffic accident" + "radio" and see what you find). Many of these websites include a description of what happened alongside images of the wreckage that resulted.

We consider such images and detailed accounts supporting evidence for what researchers have identified as strong links between listening to fast-paced music and driving fast and listening to loud music and driving recklessly, both of which correlate with increased accident rates.

As if the music isn't bad enough, now iPods and similar devices offer the video feature. Talk about multitasking - drivers can watch TV shows and music videos (among other segments) while driving. In the ever-evolving world of technology, driving Apple Corporations bottom line isn't necessarily an answer to driver boredom.

But how good can it be good when using the features limits your ability to stay in your own lane and causes significant fluctuations in your speed? We think the advance in technology is great; however, we're not so sure about the judgment of drivers who use these every evolving devices while sitting behind the wheel. We are all in the midst of what can be described as first generation technology. The second wave will have to develop audio technology that can follow verbal instructions to drive these new devices. Once the technology catches up you will have an easier time 'changing the station' without having to change your attention from traffic conditions. Until that technology catches up you need to tune the devices out and pay attention to your driving.

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on April 17, 2008 (boomark / email).