PETALING JAYA: The spotlight on the varied ways that motorists could end up breaking the law for using mobile phones while driving has led to heightened interest in in-car tools that can help avoid distractions.
While the use of phone holders is common, some drivers are turning to other accessories such as infotainment screens and smartwatches.
“Not only does this make taking calls or using GPS navigation easier, the bigger screen also means drivers no longer have to squint to look at the tiny screen of their mobile phones on the holder,” said accessories shop owner Willie Cheng when explaining the infotainment screen.
“Most gadgets also come with built-in infotainment systems like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto that enable users to mirror their smartphone screens in their vehicle’s dashboard via Bluetooth.”
He said infotainment screens have become one of the more sought-after accessories at his shop in the past few years.
“We get installation requests almost every day as the system’s interfaces have become more phone-like, making it easier and familiar for smartphone users to navigate,” he said.
Cheng said the cost of infotainment systems varies from RM350 to over RM2,000.
The pricier systems have better specifications and more features, he added.
“Their screens will also be brighter and clearer due to the use of high definition screens. It also has additional features such as a 360° camera to make parking easier,” he said.
Many customers, he said, would buy the gadgets through e-commerce platforms before bringing it to his shop for installation.
A sales worker at an information technology shop, Sheng Liu Jin, said many people also opted for smartwatches to easily pick up calls while driving.
“Smartwatch prices can vary from as low as RM169 to as high as RM2,000 but many customers are willing to purchase the higher priced ones because they come with added features that are helpful on the road,” said Sheng, 20.
Another sales worker Siti Manisah, 23, said some smartwatches have a crash detection system which automatically sends a notification to the police as well as family members if the user is involved in a car accident.
“The smartwatch also has fall detection which will notify loved ones if you are suffer a hard fall,” she said, adding that it as useful for elderly people.
As for car phone holders, electronic store supervisor Foong Jia Lee said some of these accessories can be attached to the car’s air-conditioning vent to keep the phone cool.
“Many customers complained that car phone holders placed on dashboards caused their phone to get overheated under the hot weather.
“Because of this, we recommend people to use the type that is attached to the air-cond vent,” Foong, 18, said, adding that the price of car phone holders ranges from RM20 to RM60.
Last month, a woman who was holidaying in Penang was given a summons of RM1,000 after she was caught with her phone on her lap and using a navigation app while driving.
According to her sister, the woman had held up the phone briefly to check for direction on the route.
Anyone charged with using a mobile phone while operating a vehicle can be fined up to RM1,000 (RM300 minimum) or sentenced to a maximum three months’ jail term if found guilty; second-time offenders can be fined up to RM2,000 and a jail term not exceeding six months, or both.
Yesterday, The Star quoted road transport experts as saying that other acts such as eating, putting on make-up while driving or allowing pets to move freely in the car could also be distractions.
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