Leading fuel card supplier, The Fuelcard Company, has joined the Institute of Advanced Motorists in questioning the safety of the latest vehicle dashboard computer systems.
The safe driving organisation recently drew attention to the internet-enabled dashboard infotainment systems currently under development by such technology firms as Intel and Google. These would display 3D maps, web pages and video on a ten inch screen above the dashboard.

Jakes de Kock, Marketing Director at the Fuelcard Company, one of the UK's largest fuel card resellers, said: We live in a gadget-obsessed age and modern cars brim with advanced technology. But there comes a point when the temptation to cram in another shiny gadget must take a back seat to safety. It is now illegal to use a handheld mobile phone while driving because they are an obvious distraction from the road and even the use of hands-free sets is discouraged. So how can a multimedia display be safe?

The current systems are not designed for use on the move, but not all systems will be impossible to use while driving. One car manufacturer version, due out this autumn, bears the notice: Please only use the online services when traffic conditions allow you to do so safely. Jakes de Kock adds: The question is: how can manufacturers ensure these devices are used safely? While the majority will use these devices responsibly, evidence suggests that some people are extraordinarily persistent in bad driving habits. It only takes one person to cause a fatal accident.

Research conducted by The Fuelcard Company last year revealed that even though drivers are four times more likely to crash while making illegal use of a mobile, only 12 percent had stopped making calls while the car is in motion and almost 40 percent do not own a hands free kit. The Fuelcard Company (www.fuelcards.co.uk) is one of the largest commercial fuel card resellers in the United Kingdom, enjoying partnerships with many commercial fuelling networks including Shell, Esso, Texaco, Keyfuels, and UTA. The company directly serves more than 30,000 business fleets. Visit to see if a fuel card could save you money.