3 in 4 car owners fear connectivity technology may be distracting

NEW YORK — In-car technology is revolutionizing the driving experience, especially when it comes to connectivity options, including mobiledevice connection to the Internet, navigation systems, emergency-response systems, and driving-habit-monitoring devices.

Yet, according to a Harris Poll online survey of 2,634 U.S. adults, more than three in four car owners (76 percent) report that they believe in-car connectivity technologies are too distracting and even dangerous to have. And more than half (55 percent) say automakers have taken technology for road use too far.

The poll by Harris Interactive was conducted between May 7 and May 15.

Beyond fearing how connec- tivity technology may impede driver focus, a strong majority of car owners (62 percent) also worry about how technology may interfere with their privacy, including where and how they drive.

Just over two in five U.S. car owners (41 percent) believe that their insurance rates could increase because of what in-car technology reveals about their driving habits. This is more of a concern among younger drivers between 18 and 35 (46 percent) and men (46 percent).

American car owners are, however, conflicted when it comes to technology and their cars.

Three in five (61 percent) view their car as a haven from the outside world and thus don’t want to always be connected while driving. Yet, more than half of car owners (58 percent) find that in-car connectivity makes driving more enjoyable and makes them feel safer (57 percent) while on the road. More men than women enjoy having connectivity in their cars (64 percent vs. 53 percent) and feel safer with technology on board (61 percent vs. 54 percent).

The trend of embracing in-car technology is clearly generational. Only 39 percent of car owners age 50 to 66 think in-car connectivity is important, compared with 58 percent of those age 18 to 35. When it comes to new-car purchase decisions, two in three car owners 18-35 (66 percent) say the vehicle’s technology has some or a great deal of influence on their choice. This drops to 46 percent of drivers 50-66.

According to the Harris study, safety technologies — such as back-up cameras, blind-spot warning systems and pedestrian sensors — have seen the most interest in the past year, compared with entertainment and connectivity technologies. For those new car buyers interested in entertainment and connectivity technologies, 24 percent state that they would consider the option of docking their smartphone in their vehicle compared with just 14 percent who would consider having their entertainment applications built-in.

“The data shows that consumers generally favor the safety and entertainment they find with in-car connectivity, but they don’t want to give up their privacy by sharing detailed information about their driving habits with companies that may stand to benefit from the information,” said Mike Chadsey, vice president and automotive-solutions consultant for Harris Interactive.

“In addition, the fear of technology distraction seems to outweigh the other perceived benefits of having in-car connectivity options. Carmakers should take note; depending on the generation of their target market, in-car connectivity can have influence on the buying decision, but too much of a good thing may just be too much.

“Ultimately, when it comes to marrying technology with their car, consumers want it to be both safe and in a way that they can control. Americans may be addicted to their technology but they also love the freedom represented by their automobile and are not ready to have anything interfere with their driving experience.”