As concerns about texting while driving are on the rise, Ford SYNC is heading off concerns with a new upgrade which will keep driver’s eyes on the road and off their phones.
The Ford SYNC previously let drivers make calls, play music from iPods and other music devices, and access directions through voice-activated technology. There are also emergency features built in. SYNC will call 9-11 if the car is in an accident. Now, Ford has added more voice-activated controls for tablets, including texting. If prompted, the SYNC will even read back text messages to the driver.
The issue of “distracted driving” as it has been coined in the media is a contentious one. Even with these upgrades, the MyFord Touch technology and correspondingly the Ford SYNC have been under fire from consumer groups and the press for being difficult to use and prone to glitches. Critics of the Ford SYNC would argue that these upgrades and new features could be just as distracting as calling or texting while driving, if not more so. The driver is still dividing their attentions between driving and their call or text. Hands-free or not, these features are still a distraction.
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