In-vehicle voice-based texting systems may significantly improve road safety, research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute indicates.

Researchers compared drivers manually texting to those using interactive voice systems for outbound text messaging and found drivers looked away from the road 20 times as often when texting manually. It also allowed drivers to keep their hands on the wheel more while communicating.

During the three-month study, data also indicated that the length of time drivers looked away from the road each time was typically shorter than the time required when using handheld phone. Drivers generally thought the voice system was easy to learn and worked well, researchers reported.

The report suggests that using voice-based systems reduced the gap in performance between younger and older drivers who were texting. According to one researcher, further improvements that make the system easier to use may further reduce the distraction texting poses to motorists.

This and other developing safety technologies may decrease auto insurance costs and injuries in the long-term, although experts note that new technologies typically make vehicles more expensive when first implemented.