The Drive: Just because you can talk to your car doesn't mean you should

A jarring ad from the makers of Volkswagen delivers a powerful message on the dangers of distracted driving.

The ad shows a movie theater packed with apathetic patrons enjoying refreshments while waiting for the feature film to start. As a preview shows a motorist tooling down a tree-lined country road, a researcher sends a text message to audience members, who in very Pavlovian-like fashion, reach for their phones.

As they read their texts, the vehicle slams into a tree, jolting the crowd out of its stupor. The image of a shattered windshield appears on the screen, followed by the message, "Mobile use is now the leading cause of death behind the wheel. Keep your eyes on the road."

For years we've seen similar campaigns to drive that point home. We've also seen automakers respond by equipping vehicles with voice-activated cellphone and navigation systems to provide safer alternatives.

Yet new research focusing on mental distraction from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the University of Utah out last week shows they are just as dangerous.

It's true that infotainment systems allow motorists to get directions, send text messages or dial phone numbers simply by speaking, while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. But in that process, their minds may be drifting off elsewhere.

"We already know that drivers can miss stop signs, pedestrians and other cars while using voice technologies because their minds are not fully focused on the road ahead," said Bob Darbelnet, AAA's chief executive. The systems "may unintentionally cause greater levels of cognitive distraction."

On top of that, he found, many systems are complicated and time consuming. That can send the heart rate higher and slow down reaction time, making drivers more prone to crash, he said.

Studies released in 2013 found that certain features such as voice-to-text can be just as distracting to the driver as manually texting. Yet 75 percent of drivers believe the new gizmos are safe to use.

"People tend to think that because a system is available in their car, it is safe to use while driving," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "This research shows [they can] increase the cognitive workload because people may spend more time and mental effort understanding or correcting the systems."

In-car systems are not going away, and Cooper says manufacturers can do more to make them easier to use. But motorists also have a duty to use them responsibly, and not to use them to update a Facebook page while they're driving just because the system allows it.