Critics say even when designed to help drivers keep both hands on the wheel, such technologies can cause "cognitive distractions" and are dangerous, LiveScience.com reports.

An example, critics say, is Ford's latest enhancement of its popular voice-activated SYNC in-car communications system, with a completely voice-controlled interface for entertainment -- AM/FM and satellite radio, HD, CD, MP3 -- as well as climate control, phone and navigation.

The system can even link to a smartphone to access and control other applications. Drivers can listen to streaming songs from online music services, listen to the news and check out the latest Twitter messages without ever taking their hands off the wheel.

"Ford may say it's hands-free, but it's certainly not risk-free," Robert Sinclair Jr., manager of media relations for the auto club AAA New York, says.

"The distractions that do exist are very mentally distracting, especially when it comes to checking social networking sites. We find all of this very disturbing.

"Going on Facebook or sending a Tweet is engaging in a complex conversation that should absolutely not be done while driving."

David Strayer, a cognitive scientist at the University of Utah who studies distracted driving, agrees this kind of technology in cars is dangerous.

"Some activities such as listening to the radio are passive, but others such as texting and checking Facebook are not," he says. "The mind can only do one thing at once when driving -- it's been long published in scientific journals. People who say that in-car technology is not distracting to drivers just don't know the science of the brain."

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