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Texting Toyota Yaris slammed

Safety experts criticise new technology fitted to the Yaris that lets drivers test while on the move

Toyota Yaris HSD Concept

12th September 2011

As Toyota reveals a range of clean new models at Frankfurt, safety experts have criticised the firm’s latest Yaris – the first car in the UK to enable motorists to send texts while moving.

Rival set-ups allow owners to reply to messages with preset responses, such as ‘Driving now, will reply later’. But the Yaris goes further, letting users type and send unique messages via the Touch & Go multimedia screen. This works even when the car is moving, and will grace other Toyotas as they’re replaced.

The system is legal as mobile phone laws relate only to hand-held devices. AA road safety chief Andrew Howard argued that it could be a distraction, saying: “People will feel pressured to reply to texts and not watch the road.” He added that owners “risk falling foul of dangerous driving laws” if not in proper control of the car.

A Toyota spokesman defended the tech, explaining: “The user has to be responsible for their actions,” and claiming it was “arguably more dangerous” for drivers to text using a mobile on their lap.

For an alternative review of the latest Toyota Yaris visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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11 Comments

“The user has to be responsible for their actions,”

Couldn't agree more. Being allowed to drive on the public highway is not a right, but a privilege.

By dilbert1969 on 12 September, 2011, 12:49pm

There's texting and proper texting

Toyota's response that texting on the touch screen is better shocks me. Rather like the argument over "rape" and "proper rape". Drivers shouldn't be doing anything other than driving. It's bad enough that we can end up distracted by our own thoughts, let alone other activities. I worry enough about the move to having more settings in menus these days... you have to look at the display to see what you are changing rather than the feel of a chunky button.

By alan_jenney on 12 September, 2011, 5:55pm

toyota texting

What an utterly stupid decision by Toyota, with amazing justification, citing 'it's not hand held, so it's legal', and 'drivers are responsible for their actions'. It's an added distraction, which many drivers will, no doubt, believe they can cope with. Just look around and note those drivers who are on the phone, drinking from bottles or cups, eating, smoking etc. They are not in full control. Watch their erratic behaviour. Mirror checks, signals, lane discipline, forward planning all gone.
Wake up Toyota, this is not the way forward. This puts Toyota in a much worse light than the recent recalls.

By keitharksey on 13 September, 2011, 12:21pm

Does keitharksey work for Health & Saftey??

Smoking at the wheel makes no differnece to my driving style. Some of us can handle it where as others, like yourself can clearly not.

By AndyG on 13 September, 2011, 12:40pm

It should be banned immediately

I suppose it is too much to ask our useless UK Department for Transport to step in and immediately ban this device. It is just as if not more dangerous as watching TV while on the move and that is banned.

As for the response from Toyota - crass and unbelievable. Sure it is less dangerous than driving with a loaded shotgun pointed at your head as well but that does not excuse fitting such a potentially lethal device to a car. The sort of people who are likely to use this device are precisely those who need to concentrate all of their limited intelligence on driving.

By wilsonlaidlaw on 13 September, 2011, 12:51pm

User has to be responsible - not the car maker.

The driver has to use that thing called - COMMON SENSE!
I think that this is a very useful piece of technology to have in a vehicle just like bluetooth or sat nav but all these devices should be used when the car is stationary. I am not sure what planet some of the people above are living on when they say it should be banned - switching stations on a radio or switching CD's could potentially cause a crash, so what do you do - rip out all types of car technology from vehicles and just provide the driver with a steering wheel, pedals, gearlever and speedo??!!

By cousins11 on 13 September, 2011, 3:47pm

Toyota vs. Nanny State?

The driver must take some responsibility for the use of systems in the car. Saying it's a distraction from the road - isn't operating the radio? The A/C? In fact anything that means you take your attention from the wheel? Far from it being crass - Toyota should be applauded for providing a solution to drivers to avoid the temptation of using a handheld phone.

And to wilsonlaidlaw - watching TV is illegal whilst driving - cars are still specified with the feature though....double standards?

By driversdriver on 13 September, 2011, 10:24pm

Toyota vs. Nanny State?

The driver must take some responsibility for the use of systems in the car. Saying it's a distraction from the road - isn't operating the radio? The A/C? In fact anything that means you take your attention from the wheel? Far from it being crass - Toyota should be applauded for providing a solution to drivers to avoid the temptation of using a handheld phone.

And to wilsonlaidlaw - watching TV is illegal whilst driving - cars are still specified with the feature though....double standards?

By driversdriver on 13 September, 2011, 10:25pm

Wrong!!!

My Mercedes could do this 5 years ago... standard feature of the COMAND system back then!

By def90cars on 14 September, 2011, 8:54am

WRONG!!!

Toyota is utterly irresponsible fitting such a system in an affordable supermini. This has everything to do with health and safety and you'd have to be a complete dullard, or the type of troglodyte who regularly uses a mobile phone whilst driving to defend it.

The Yaris is a popular choice amongst newly qualified drivers who tend to be young, tech savvy and possess impressionable friends. We've all seen them hanging out in McDonalds drive thru car parks doing donuts, hand brake turns and generally razzing around trying to impress their mates and the local girlies, and to think these 'people' will be able to text on the move as well makes my skin crawl...

By sgtgrash on 1 October, 2011, 9:59pm

Stupid

Why would anyone with a brain want to text or make a call, hands free or not, whilst they were driving? What call or message is ever so important that it can't wait for a driver to be able to park up and give it their full attention?

By knox615 on 6 October, 2011, 12:08pm

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