One of the biggest problems on the roads today is distracted driving. Every single day, thousands of people are seriously injured or even killed in car accidents that involve a driver who is distracted behind the wheel. As a result of this huge problem, law enforcement has cracked down hard all across the country to prevent drivers from operating their vehicles while distracted. Unfortunately, there is something new on the market that will certainly contribute to the issue.
General Motors has a brand new shopping app within its vehicles. This app will incorporate a variety of shopping features right into your vehicle in much the way that smartphone functions and features have been integrated into today’s vehicles’ infotainment systems. The GM app will allow drivers to order many items on the go, such as coffee and food, and will allow them to browse through a variety of hotels while traveling behind the wheel. The built in app is called Marketplace and will allow drivers to browse through a number of deals on a variety of purchases with companies like Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, TGI Friday’s, Priceline and more through its touchscreen feature.
Safety Council Slams GM Marketplace
The president of the National Safety Council, Deborah Hersman, states that this app will only add to the problem of distracted driving, a problem that is a factor in one-quarter of all car crashes. Just last year alone in the United States, there was an increase of 5.6 percent in fatalities stemming from vehicle accidents, which accounted for over 37,000 incidents.
Hersman said that there is nothing about the GM Marketplace app that is safe and that the car manufacturer wanting Wi-Fi equipped within the car, the number of fatalities from accidents caused by distracted driving is only going to creep ever higher.
GM Says App is Safer than Using a Phone
Recently, GM reported that it plans on including the app within millions of its 2017 and 2018 model vehicles, which are also equipped with their own Wi-Fi systems. The car manufacturer insists that Marketplace will give drivers a safer option as opposed to using their smartphones to make purchases while driving. There are only four steps needed to make a transaction and the app’s user interface is made to be much more user-friendly than anything found on a smartphone. However, in spite of the simplicity, it can easily lead to more people growing distracted while behind the wheel when they can easily wait until they arrive home or elsewhere and make purchases from their computer, tablet or phone.
According to GM spokesman Vijay Iyer, the manufacturer’s ultimate goal is to provide something safer for drivers. He stated that the Marketplace app is designed with voluntary driver distraction guidelines to which car companies comply. In addition, he pointed out that the limit of four steps in order to make a transaction limit the potential amount of distraction.
Safety Council Cites Research Against GM Claims of Safety
Hersman denounced the invention and stated that, with the number of deaths only increasing from vehicle accidents, there shouldn’t be yet another means for drivers to become distracted while on the road. She asserted that hands-free systems are not safer and that research has clearly shown that. Hersman says there must be more ways to protect drivers instead of exposing them to further risks and that just because a car is equipped with certain features doesn’t mean they’re safe to use while driving.
If you have been involved in an accident with a distracted driver in Texas, it’s essential that you seek the assistance of an attorney. Call our law offices today at any of our convenient locations and get a free consultation.
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