Apple might have impressed a whole lot of people with their recent unveiling of the Apple Watch, but you can color the Institute of Advanced Motorists in the U.K. as unimpressed. Known as IAM in short, the body does share its concerns about the potential impact that this new wearable device might have on drivers. After all, wearable technology is slowly but surely rising up the ranks to be one of the major driving distractions since the popularity of mobile phones exploded through the roof – which in turn, would see a potential increase of more accidents on the road.
The UK Department for Transport is in agreement with this matter, touting that drivers who make use of smartwatches or other kinds of wearable technologies will be charged with a similar penalty as though one was using a mobile phone.
According to Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM, “An Apple Watch has the potential to be just as distracting as any other smartphone device. Indeed more so if you have to take your hand off the wheel and your eyes off the road to interact with it.”
Perhaps the whole idea of self-driving cars being implemented worldwide might not be too bad a thing after all, since it would enable folks to remain glued to their phones, tablets and wearables all the more.
Filed in . Read more about Apple Watch and Wearable Tech.