The connected car: New services pit convenience against safety

With the increased popularity of smart phones and social networks, automakers are tapping these connected technologies in vehicles to allow drivers to update Facebook, send a Tweet, check stocks, surf the Web, and more. However, will the need to stay connected affect driver safety? Our latest investigative report provides insight into this trend.

In our October report "Connected Cars: A New Risk," we look at the some of the technologies automakers are offering in their vehicles, address the potential for driver distraction, and speak to a wide range of industry insiders and safety advocates.

A number of automakers are already offering these technologies in their vehicles such as Ford Sync, GM OnStar, Hyundai Blue Link, and Toyota Entune, plus more systems are coming in the next few months. It is projected that in five years 90 percent of vehicles will have some type of connected car features.

David Strayer, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah's Applied Cognition Lab who has studied distracted driving, says, "Technology is moving faster than common sense may dictate." He notes that if your eyes are off the road for longer than two seconds than it's a hazard.

Distracted driving has been on the minds of safety experts for the past few years, and this growing threat has seen increased prominence since Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made it a mission to reduce the 5,500 automotive fatalities caused by it. The initial safety focus was on cell phone talking while driving, then attention centered on texting behind the wheel, and now, the attention is shifting to the combination of those functions and the ability to surf the web and access social media.

In addition, what used to be simple controls in vehicles are becoming more complex and more time consuming to perform, as shown in our video below.

While the connected car does have its appeal with quick access to information that can help you save time and gas, consumers should use these electronics sensibly and help reduce the risk by planning ahead of time. (Read "How to minimize distracted driving").

Read our full report on connected cars in the October issue online and on newsstands now. For more on distracted driving, see our special section.

—Liza Barth