IntroductionOver the last century, automobiles have become an integral part of American life. From the small but capable Ford Model T, popular in the 1920s, to the rugged and rugged Hummer H3 that appears built to survive nuclear attacks. Cars have transformed over the last 100 years. As technology has evolved and affected our lives at a rapid pace over time, automobiles have become one of the standard devices where technology can be implemented to improve driver performance and make driving easier. This academic paper investigates whether the transformation of technology in automobiles has resulted in improvements or decreases in driver performance. As I have researched in several articles and academic papers, technology has improved drivers. New technologies such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, and self-parking technology can dramatically improve driver performance (NHTSA, 2011). But along with the advantages offered by this new technology, there are also disadvantages that create problems for the driver, such as distractions. While the transformation of technology in automobiles has improved drivers, some features such as digital dashboards and voice command systems can become a source of distraction for drivers. Background Information The history of automobiles has come a long way; the first automobile was invented between 1832 and 1839 by Robert Anderson, a Scottish inventor, which ran on electricity via non-rechargeable cells. About 70 years later, in 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Ford Model T to America, which became the first automobile that middle-class Americans could own and would change the culture and identity of Americans to this day (PBS, 2009). During the 20th century came the car radio, power steering, cru...... middle of paper ......actions or the limited use of photographic images and moving maps while the vehicle is in motion . Depending on who wins this battle, it could set a precedent for who decides what is safe for consumers, Rogers says: “IF the alliance prevails, the industry will have more leeway in what it can deem safe for consumers without government interference” (2012) ). Making automakers choose what is safe and what is not may not be the best situation for consumers, because automakers are always trying to make money faster, for example by integrating apps into in-dash systems. But government may not be the best solution either. Although the government is trying to counter fast and rapidly changing automotive technology, “…any regulation would probably be obsolete by the time it became applicable,” says John Quain (2013). Autonomous cars, the end of Drivers? Conclusion