Is the interactive technology race in cars going too far?

We just did a radio show about the dangers of driving while texting, after hearing about five teenage girls that were killed because phone records show the driver was texting moments before the crash. We also talked about the fact that in this hi-tech world the problem is hardly limited to youngsters, who generally are much more savvy then boomers when it comes to this kind of technology. We also know that way too many of us are guilty of being distracted while driving whether it's a cell phone, blackberry or even the vehicle itself.

The question is how much of a good thing is too much? It certainly can be said that the technical advances in vehicles today are for the most part a good thing and I must admit for the most part that I am a fan, safety and navigation systems are two prime examples. It's important to point out however, that most Nav systems have a fail safe where no input can happen when the vehicle is in motion. However, with the tremendous demand by consumers for more sophisticated systems, I'm wondering if the manufacturers need to start thinking about just how dangerous technology can be.

Because vehicles are so easy to drive today, they're quieter and so solid on the road that there is a false sense of security for people behind the wheel. That quality lends itself to driving at a much higher rate of speed then in the past when you could actually feel the speed of the car. Also, there is more traffic on the roads and trying to stay a safe distance from the car in front of you is virtually impossible on today's roads.

Now add the fact that most ergonomic controls are to the right of the driver and so complicated that it necessitates taking one's eyes of the road to use, you begin to understand just how dangerous our highways are becoming. Having had the privilege over the last 13 years to drive and review vehicles for the manufacturers, my partner and I have driven the BMW7 Series with its 700 plus idrive system, the Audi's with a similar system that is so complicated that one needs to take a class to learn how to use the system. But this problem is not limited to hi-end luxury models. The most basic cars today have at the least a very sophisticated sound system that even with controls in the steering wheel, changing out CD's, or plugging in an mp3 system can be very distracting.

The dichotomy is that the wireless and interactive technology market is worth some $3.5 billion dollars today and that number is expected to grow to over $15 billion by 2015. That's a pretty big piece of pie for manufacturers, so once again the question is, how much it too much? Should controls be installed that render some of the technology inoperative while the vehicle is in motion or should drivers be left to monitor themselves? I'm not sure I know the answer to that but I'd love to hear your thoughts and maybe even have you address them on our radio show.

For more information or to contact us, visit http://www.twofortheroadusa.com/