You have long heard the warnings about texting while driving in California and should be conditioned to avoid that by now. What you may not realize is that operating your car’s infotainment system, like using Apple CarPlay, is could be more dangerous than texting behind the wheel. Studies show that operating this system behind the wheel may slow your reaction times even more than the use of marijuana.

When you are using CarPlay, you have one hand on your phone and are looking down at the device. This necessarily means that your eyes are off the road for a prolonged period of time. While CarPlay is designed to disable certain functions and give warnings when it detects that it is being used while the car is in operation, these controls could stand to be stronger. Although you may think that CarPlay is here to make your life easier, the reality is that it makes it much more dangerous to drive with it.

Studies have shown that texting while driving slows your reaction times behind the wheel down by 35%. Using CarPlay while driving slows reaction times by an astounding 57%. This is almost three times the effect of driving while under the influence of cannabis. Drivers must be aware of these dangers and pre-program things such as their playlist and directions that they may need on their trip.

If you have been in an auto accident with another driver who was using their device while behind the wheel, they may be found to have been negligent. Drivers must have their eyes on the rod and their hands on the steering wheel at all times. A personal injury attorney may help you file a claim for financial compensation if you were injured in a car accident where the other driver was not entirely focused on the road at the time of the accident.