Do you use a voice-activated system in your home or your car to get things done more easily? It might be convenient, but using one in your car can still be as distracting. Whether it’s looking down at a phone or using a voice-activated system, other activities pull your cognitive focus on the road and put you at higher risk of an accident caused by distracted driving.

Many people are under the impression that voice-activated systems inside their vehicle do not do any damage. However, a recent study completed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety identified that ranking from 1 to 4, with 1 being mild distraction and level 4 being a very high distraction, certain cars with voice-activated systems were more likely to distract drivers than others.

The Mazda 6 came at a level of 4.6; meaning that it had a very high distraction rate, but it was followed only by the program, Microsoft Cortana, which had a 3.8 average distraction rate. Apple’s Siri and Google Now came in the 3.4 and 3.0 range, respectively, with the Chevy Equinox coming in as the least distracting type of voice-activated system in cars today. Voice activated systems often give people driving vehicles a false sense of confidence about their ability to stay focused on the road in front of them.

Anything can pull your attention away from the road and could lead to a catastrophic accident and resulting injuries. Speaking with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in San Diego is necessary if you have already been hurt. You may be able to show that the other driver was using voice-activated systems at the time of the accident and therefore, does not have the appropriate focus.