Ford's Survey Proves Common Sense Is Right

Ford performed a survey with 700 participants in India to find out what distracts us the most while driving. The study found that 57 per cent of participants had either had an accident or a close shave due to distracted driving. For some reason, Ford also included those participants who knew someone with a 'distracted driving' story.

53 per cent said that they had used the phone when stuck in traffic or at a stop light. The carmaker took the opportunity to inform them that it is illegal to do so even if you are unable to move an inch in the traffic. 54 per cent said that they were more likely to indulge in a telephonic conversation with their family while driving. The rest prioritised work over family while driving.

44 per cent agreed to having sent a message over WhatsApp, Messenger, etc., using social media or talked to someone while driving the car. Young parents also said that kids in the car were a big reason for distraction. 42 per cent of the participants are aware of the dangers of using a phone while also managing the wheel but end up using it anyway. Over three-fourth of those claims to have used the camera while driving, just because they were bored.

A ray of hope shining through the findings here is that people are aware of the dangers and want to lose the habit of glancing at their phones. 92 per cent of people said that they'd like to be trained in dealing with distracted driving and how they can stay more focused during the driving session.

Rahul Gautam, vice president of marketing, Ford India, said, "More people face fatalities on Indian roads because of other’s faults. Ford is committed to helping raise awareness of road safety and educating drivers on safe driving practices. Phones are a great distraction normally, but behind the wheel, they can be life threatening."

The company hopes to treat this distraction with its SYNC 3 infotainment system that can be used with voice commands. If you're not a fan of Microsoft's work, then you should consider the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which are more likely to offer a seamless integration with your smartphone. That's because, in the case of Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, Google/Apple manages the end-to-end software integration. That means the phone's operating system and the infotainment system's interface are tightly intertwined. You can also use voice commands to carry out tasks on your phone with the virtual assistant that comes baked into your phone.

Also Read: Ford Endeavour Now Available With SYNC 3