Screens in cars are getting even bigger? Is it safe?
The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
by Nathan Bomey
January 15, 2021
“There are already some studies that indicate significant driver distraction can be a result of in-dashboard screens,” Jason K. Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, said in an email. “The question is, by making them bigger, wider and more integrated with the vehicle, does this make an existing problem worse?”
Screens in vehicles are getting bigger and bigger.
But is that better?
German automaker Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz revealed a new 56-inch screen nearly spanning the width of an entire car this month, becoming the latest brand to bet on larger-than-ever digital displays.
The Jan. 7 announcement came as other car brands like Tesla, Ram and Toyota turn the dashboards and instrument panels of certain new vehicles into a sort of Apple store.
Gone are the days of playing-card-sized screens causing drivers and passengers to squint their eyes at low-resolution text and poorly designed graphics.