Drivers should stick to the radio and steer clear of iPod’s

New research has been published showing that drivers generally are safer when using their car radio than if they have an iPod in their vehicle.

The research, from the Journal of the Human and Ergonomics Society in the US, finds that drivers are less distracted if they are searching for a favourite radio station than they are if looking for a particular song on an iPod or MP3. They tested 50 drivers aged between 18 and 25 on a driving simulator and tested them when choosing radio stations and using iPods, while also varying the road conditions and the density of traffic.

They found that the longer the iPod playlist, the more chance there was of being distracted as the process of choosing a song meant drivers must take their eyes off the road and possibly for longer than they would intend. With nine out of 10 new cars now having MP3 connectivity, which allows motorists to use portable devices through the car stereo, clearly the problem is here to stay.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9211406/In-car-iPod-more-risky-...