Ordering coffee on the go? Apps turn cars into smartphones, raising safety questions
Auto industry looks to tap revenue by providing e-commerce in vehicles, but safety advocates warn of driver distraction
MIKE COLIAS Car makers seeking new revenue streams are offering drivers the ability to preorder coffee or make restaurant reservations on the move, raising safety concerns at a time when distracted driving is already at elevated levels.
General Motors Co. late last year became the first major car maker to roll out such services through its Marketplace interface, allowing drivers to order takeout from Applebee’s, pay for gas at a nearby station and make hotel reservations via Priceline.com—all from the vehicle’s touch screen display.
Hyundai Motor Co. is developing a similar system that it has tested with Applebee’s and Chevron Corp. gas stations. BMW AG offers a built-in app that lets drivers locate and pay for parking.
Analysts expect more car companies to link up with retailers, fast-food chains and other merchants to offer car owners the same kinds of e-commerce apps that have long been available on smartphones.
Auto industry executives see the new apps as an added convenience and revenue generator, with merchants paying to have their icons and discount deals displayed on the touch screen.
But safety advocates say such features only further contribute to driver distraction. After years of decline, the number of U.S. road deaths increased in 2015 and 2016, and safety groups say the rise is in part driven by smartphones and infotainment systems giving drivers more reason to take their eyes off the road.
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