When most of us hear the words distracted driving, we think of motorists who are texting or talking on their cellphone while behind the wheel. Many states have passed laws that address the use of these devices while operating a motor vehicle, but officials have begun to focus on an entirely different type of distracted driving.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is committed to reducing the number of car accidents caused by distracted drivers, recently announced guidelines that address devices that come pre-installed on several different types of new vehicles. For example, manufacturers may install in-dash GPS devices, phones or computers that can be used by a person behind the wheel.

While motorists may appreciate the convenience, these devices may take a driver's eyes off the road. People may have a false sense of security when using these pre-installed options, and not realize that this behavior is just as dangerous as using a handheld cellphone.

The new guidelines, which would be voluntary, would ask automakers to develop systems that reduce the amount of user interaction that is required from the driver. Devices should be operable with one hand (allowing the driver to keep one hand on the wheel), and limit the amount of information that is displayed. Pre-installed devices that access the internet or social media platforms would not be accessible to the driver until the vehicle is in park.

These would be major changes for many manufacturers. The Obama administration has committed $300 million for 6 years to combat distracted driving. Officials are also considering a second phase for the guidelines which would be focused on devices that are brought into vehicles, such as cellphones, MP3 players and GPS devices.

Source: NHTSA, "U.S. Department of Transportation Proposes 'Distraction' Guidelines for Automakers" Feb. 16, 2012.