According to figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), in 2019 there were 12,197 road accidents in which distraction played a role.
Part of the issue could be attributed to the more complex in-car infotainment systems found within most vehicles today. With more buttons, touchscreen options, media outout and settings than ever before, are today’s cars showcasing an issue that safety experts have been trying to fight against – that of distraction?
An experiment by What Car? has been analysed by The Compensation Experts, raning 20 vehicles on how distracting their infotainment systems are, based on six common driving tasks.
The study has found that the MG ZS EV is the most distracting car to drive, scoring just 12 points out of a possible 30 across the six tests. The Fiat 500X was the second most distracting, gaining only 14 points.
The test included were turning up the temperature by 2 degrees, increasing fan speed, zoom out on the sat nav map, cancel route guidance, switch radio to BBC Radio 4, and use voice control to find the nearest service station.
“The MG ZS EV uses the same infotainment system as its sister models,” comments Auto Repair Focus editor Phil Curry, who spent some time with one in 2019 as part of a series about living with an electric vehicle. “I believe part of the issue may be the split second it takes the touchscreen to register an input and display the relevant information. However, as an electric vehicle, there is also a myriad of additional option displayed on the instrument screen, and these can easily catch the eye for longer than necessary.
“It is the same with any vehicle, however. More and more information is being displayed to the driver as cars attempt to be in the same league as smartphones. If travelling with a passenger, there is little issue, but simply changing the radio station when on your own can become a more complex task than it needs to be.”
The full results of the analysis are:
| Rank | Brand | Car system | Points |
| 1 | MG | MG ZS EV with 8.0in touchscreen | 12 |
| 2 | Fiat | 500X with 7-inch touchscreen and Uconnect Live | 14 |
| 3 | Skoda | Citigo-e iV with colour screen and phone holder | 16 |
| 4 | Peugeot | 508 SW with 10-inch Connected 3D Navigation and voice recognition | 17 |
| 5 | Lexus | RX with 12.3-inch multimedia display | 18 |
| 6 | Honda | CR-V with 7-inch touchscreen, Honda Connect and Garmin navigation | 18 |
| 7 | Nissan | Juke with Nissan Connect | 19 |
| 8 | Toyota | Corolla with Touch 2 media system and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | 20 |
| 9 | Volvo | S60 with Sensus | 20 |
| 10 | Jaguar | XE with 10-inch Touch Pro Duo system | 21 |
| 11 | Skoda (premium) | Kamiq with 9.2-inch touchscreen, voice control and Amundsen sat-nav | 21 |
| 12 | Vauxhall | Corsa with 10-inch Multimedia Navi Pro | 22 |
| 13 | Hyundai | Ioniq with 10.25-inch touchscreen and Bluelink connectivity | 22 |
| 14 | Ford | Fiesta with Sync 3 navigation and FordPass Connect | 23 |
| 15 | Volkswagen | Passat GTE with 8-inch Composition Media system | 24 |
| 16 | Mazda | Mazda3 with 8.8-inch colour display and Mazda Connect | 25 |
| 17 | Audi | Q3 Sportback with Virtual Cockpit Plus | 26 |
| 18 | Porsche | Panamera E-Hybrid with Connect Plus and Porsche Communication Management | 27 |
| 19 | Mercedes-Benz | CLA with 10.25-inch touchscreen | 27 |
| 20 | BMW | 3 Series with Live Cockpit Professional | 28 |
Top Tips for Avoiding Distractions While Driving
John Parry, driving instructor at Parry’s Fleet Services, offers his top tips on how to avoid distractions and keep yourself and others safe while driving:
1. Know Where You are Going
If you’re using a navigation system, program the destination before you set off.
2. Pull Over
If you must call or text, or if you’re struggling to use the in-built system, pull off the road safely and stop first.
3. Ask Passengers for Help
If riding with someone, seek their help to navigate, make a call or send a message.
4. Be a good passenger
Speak out if the driver of your vehicle is distracted, and help them when needed.
5. Don’t be a distraction
Avoid calling or texting others when you know they are driving.
6. Activate Do Not Disturb
Setting up ‘Do not disturb’ on your iPhone or Android device will prevent calls from coming in while you’re driving.
7. Everyone should avoid distractions while in traffic
Just as drivers need to pay attention, so do pedestrians and bicyclists. Never call, text or play games while walking or cycling
