Science & technology | Road safety

Motorists using touchscreens in cars are being distracted

Voice recognition is much safer

STEP INSIDE most modern cars and instead of all the dials and switches that used to clutter the dashboard you are likely to find it dominated by a touchscreen. Often there is more than one screen, and some are bigger than those on a laptop. But, though touchscreens provide a convenient way to operate a multitude of controls and settings, the latest research shows they can also be dangerous distractions.

This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Touchy drivers”

A dangerous gap: The markets v the real economy

From the May 9th 2020 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Science & technology

A person's silhouette made up from a mix of multi coloured fragments of plastic

Should you worry about microplastics?

Little is known about the effects on humans—but limiting exposure to them seems prudent

Parasitic wasp - laying egg in hoverfly larvae.

Wasps stole genes from viruses

That probably assisted their evolutionary diversification


The World Health Organisation crest on the wall.

America’s departure from the WHO would harm everyone

Whether it is a negotiating ploy remains to be seen


Genetic engineering could help rid Australia of toxic cane toads

It is better than freezing them to death

High-tech antidotes for snake bites

Genetic engineering and AI are powering the search for antivenins

Can you breathe stress away?

It won’t hurt to try. But scientists are only beginning to understand the links between the breath and the mind