UK-based safety advocacy group Institute for Advanced Motorists has warned that the Apple Watch could significantly impair driving performance and become a “major cause” for distraction and accidents.
The group claims thousands of injuries and at least 110 fatal accidents in the UK were caused by cellphones between 2006 and 2010, and wearable devices connected to such phones will only increase the impairment.
“Constant alerts will require motorists’ regular attention,” IAM said in a statement. “As opposed to using a legal hands-free piece of equipment the iWatch will require drivers to use two hands to operate the device – impacting speed, lane position and time spent looking at the road.”
The UK is said to have already clarified that the Apple Watch and similar devices will be legally considered equivalent to a cellphone when used by drivers, carrying a penalty of approximately 100 GBP (~$163 USD) and three license points. If the watch is found to have been a contributing factor in a fatal accident, drivers face up to two years in prison.
“Enforcement will be difficult for the police, but powers exist to seize and interrogate devices in the event of a serious crash,” says IAM director Neil Greig. “The very device that distracted you also has the power to convict you.”
US laws regarding distracted driving vary by state, but in most cases the wearable gadgets will likely be considered no different than cellphones.
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