Ipods Are the Cause of Numerous Car Accidents
It seems as if every new technology brings with it a whole new set of dangers. Most people have been aware of the risks involved with cell phone use and driving for quite a while. Now, studies are showing iPods are also posing a similar threat to the road.
According to an article posted on physorg.com, recent studies have determined the effects of using an iPod while driving are similar to that of dialing a cell phone, which has proven to be a large hazard on the road. Studies have also found iPod use on the road is rather prevalent among drivers. In 2006, General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) conducted a poll which found 20% of drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 have selected songs from their iPod while driving.
Dario Salvucci, a computer science professor at Drexel University, conducted one of the first research tests investigating the effects of iPod use while driving. The study found that drivers selecting music from their iPod were much more likely to swerve in an out of their lane. iPod use also caused speed fluctuations, as the driver tends to slow down suddenly while selecting music.
According to an article by Reader’s Digest, a teenage girl from Minnesota was selecting a song from her iPod while driving with her cousin and a friend. She drove off the road and flipped her car. The driver and her friend were killed. The dangers of using an iPod, or any other distracting device, are real.
