Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information he holds on the effect of built-in infotainment systems on levels of vehicle safety; and whether he has issued guidance on the (a) development and (b) use of those systems.

The Department holds limited information currently on the safety of in-vehicle infotainment systems. The Department commissioned fundamental research in the late 1990s with TRL Ltd that coincided with the rapid development of such systems, and satellite navigation devices.

This research formed the basis for wider activity across a number of countries and resulted in the “European Statement of Principles on Human Machine Interface”.

The Department is aware of the recently published report from IAM RoadSmart and will be reviewing it in detail. The Highway Code already warns drivers about the danger of driver distraction, reminds them of the importance of exercising proper control of their vehicle at all times and advises them to stop if they need to look at screen-based information.