Siri vs Google Now: Which is More Distracting on the Road?

Users frequently pit virtual assistants Siri and Google Now against each other. When it comes to driving, a new study found that Siri was more distracting than Google Now.

A new research study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed that Siri and other voice-activated systems can be potentially dangerous on the road. The technology can mentally distract the driver for several seconds, leading to unsafe circumstances.

The drivers in the research traveled at 25mph for a distance spanning about three football fields. The results showed that potentially dangerous levels of mental distraction can last up to 27 seconds, after the driver finishes a distracting task among the worst-performing systems observed. Among the least distracting systems, drivers were mentally distracted for up to 15 seconds. AAA categorized the mental distraction rankings into five categories.

Mac Rumors cited that on a five-point scale that measures the distracting level of the systems, Siri scored 3.4 and Google Now scored 3.0. This means that Google Now was less distracting compared to Siri. However, the new Microsoft Cortana was discovered to be the most distracting of all, after scoring 3.8 on the scale. Other voice-activated systems were also rated. The Crysler 200c and Hyundai Sonata had the same scores as Cortana with 3.8, making the three assistants the most distracting in the list. The Nissan Altima was No. 3 with a 3.7 rating, followed by the Volkswagen Passat with 3.5. Siri and the Chevy Malibu were in fifth place at 3.4. The Ford Taurus scored 3.1, followed by Google Now. The Toyota 4Runner rated 2.9.

Only three systems in the list were rated as moderate distraction, namely the Toyota 4Runner, the Chevy Equinox (2.4) and the Buick Lacrosse (2.4). All the rest were categorized as high distraction. If a system scored 4.0 at least, it would be described as very high distraction. The Mazda 6 had the worst rating at 4.6.

“The lasting effects of mental distraction pose a hidden and pervasive danger that would likely come as a surprise to most drivers. The results indicate that motorists could miss stop signs, pedestrians and other vehicles while the mind is readjusting to the task of driving.” said Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

Phase I and Phase II of the study were published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in previous years. Updates are expected in the coming months, which may include new in-dash systems, such as Android Auto and CarPlay.