[kns]

This article discusses the available technology and opines that the answer to the question in the headline is that no manufacturer or carrier wants to be first for fear of losing customers. Without starting a debate on the pros and cons of safety regulations, I think this is one area in which NHTSA, the FCC or the states could facilitate adoption of life saving technology.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/25/t...s-could-cut-off-drivers-so-why-dont-they.html

KNS

 

[Barry]

I think that would be a real hot-button issue. People do not want their tech lifelines cut off for any reason. The majority of people wouldn't buy the phones or vote for the lawmakers that would make it happen. Or they would figure out how to defeat the technology. I personally would love to see something done in this area, but I'm not holding my breath. As a partial measure, it could at least be a parental control setting.

 

[Qinsp]

Make it simple.

When the car detects a cell phone in use, the 3rd brake light flickers. Like .01s x 1 Hz.

This way cops can write you tickets.

 

[JoeReal]

There's a major problem with these touted technologies that Apple, AT&T, Android and other cell phone makers haven't solved and that's part of the reason why they can't implement it.

Their technologies can't automatically determine if YOU'RE THE DRIVER OR A PASSENGER IN A VEHICLE! Yes, it is super easy to know if you're in a moving vehicle but not who the driver is.

We carpool a lot, and I would truly hate it that all phones in the car won't operate when I am not the driver nor doing any sideseat driving.

 

[rmay635703]

I think that would be a real hot-button issue. People do not want their tech lifelines cut off for any reason. The majority of people wouldn't buy the phones or vote for the lawmakers that would make it happen. Or they would figure out how to defeat the technology. I personally would love to see something done in this area, but I'm not holding my breath. As a partial measure, it could at least be a parental control setting.

There is the problem, they aren't lifelines, mental masturbation maybe.

A $3 device can defeat the cell signal and would be an excellent addition to any car.

Far easier to see if something's removed than being used from an enforcement standpoint

 

[JoeReal]

There is the problem, they aren't lifelines, mental masturbation maybe.

A $3 device can defeat the cell signal and would be an excellent addition to any car.

Far easier to see if something's removed than being used from an enforcement standpoint

It still doesn't solve the main problem of who's driving the vehicle when there's more than one cell phone user in a vehicle. It would be unfair to disable everyone's cell phone signal when only one is the driver. And you can't fix the cell phone with the car. Our family members can drive any of our cars. Sometimes I let other people in a carpool group drive my car when I'm sleepy or I drive their car when they are sleepy.

 

[Loboc]

This will all be a moot point when cars can take over from the humans and safely prevent collisions. The teen training features of some GM vehicles is a first step. No seat belt, no audio infotainment.

I don't call all collisions 'accidents'. If the the person chose to be distracted, it was a deliberate decision. An accident is if a wheel falls off.

Personally, I text and drive while using driver-assist features like ACC and related alerts. The car practically drives itself on straight roads. I also phone and drive, but, I use hands-free. Talking on a phone is no more distracting than talking to a back-seat passenger.

Glancing at a screen is as easy as checking the radio station or speed. Actually reading and responding is the issue.

This is a training issue pure and simple. They should teach distraction-avoidance techniques in driver's education. Anybody convicted of distracted driving should lose driving privileges until they take and pass a refresher course.

 

[viking79]

Exactly, self driving cars are the best solution.

It also needs to be mentioned that jammers are illegal and a vilation of the FCC.

 

[SharkVolt]

Make the car capable of sensing which phone is in the left front seat and allow only Bluetooth on that phone, no direct calls or texting, which requires reading and typing.

If the phone is passed to another passenger it can be used normally by that passenger.

 

[rmay635703]

It still doesn't solve the main problem of who's driving the vehicle when there's more than one cell phone user in a vehicle. It would be unfair to disable everyone's cell phone signal when only one is the driver. And you can't fix the cell phone with the car. Our family members can drive any of our cars. Sometimes I let other people in a carpool group drive my car when I'm sleepy or I drive their car when they are sleepy.

I don't think its unfair at all, cell phones are completely unnecessary.
We went millions of years without them, I think a few hours without would probably be one of the most healthy things we could ever do as a society.

Far better to disable a useless time waster than allow someone to crash because they are watching a movie while driving.

 

[kns]

...Their technologies can't automatically determine if YOU'RE THE DRIVER OR A PASSENGER IN A VEHICLE! Yes, it is super easy to know if you're in a moving vehicle but not who the driver is...

It still doesn't solve the main problem of who's driving the vehicle when there's more than one cell phone user in a vehicle. It would be unfair to disable everyone's cell phone signal when only one is the driver...

Such technology is coming. From the article, "One company, Cellcontrol, sells a device that mounts on the dash and that uses high-frequency sound waves to identify a phone’s location. If the phone’s user is in the driver’s seat, the device can lock out prohibited services.

"The $129 device, which looks like a small turtle shell, “is very accurate,” said Cellcontrol’s chief technology officer, Joe Breaux. The hiccup is that the technology can sometimes turn off the phone of a passenger sitting behind the driver."

KNS

 

[kns]

...Personally, I text and drive while using driver-assist features like ACC and related alerts. The car practically drives itself on straight roads. I also phone and drive, but, I use hands-free. Talking on a phone is no more distracting than talking to a back-seat passenger...

ACC and hands-free cell phone use create a false sense of security. A small sample of the research...
http://evidencebasedliving.human.co...-hands-free-cell-phone-devices-while-driving/
http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initia...-hands-free-is-not-risk-free-infographic.aspx
http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/Understanding-the-Distracted-Brain.aspx
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36475180

...Glancing at a screen is as easy as checking the radio station or speed. Actually reading and responding is the issue...

From the article, "...voice-activated systems raise other concerns, said David Strayer, an expert on driver attention at the University of Utah, who said he had studied CarPlay and the feature allowed drivers to perform some functions that could take their attention off the road.

“It does not eliminate driver distraction — not even close,” Dr. Strayer said."

Some of his work is reported here...
https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/MeasuringCognitiveDistractions.pdf
http://unews.utah.edu/up-to-27-seconds-of-inattention-after-talking-to-your-car-or-smart-phone/

KNS

 

[KenC]

It's all a slippery slope, since there are other forms of distracted driving that people partake in, that doesn't involve cellphones. There's talking to your passengers. Haven't you passed someone on the road who wasn't driving straight, or wasn't maintaining a regular speed, only to realize they were talking to their passenger as you could see their head turn as they talked?

People need to be responsible. Outlaw tech, and you'll have people paying for cell blocker blockers.

Isn't a GPS device, similarly distracting?

 

[Barry]

Yes, I see autonomous cars as the ultimate solution to this. Every other solution will fall short. Fortunately it is coming soon. Unfortunately, phones are also getting more captivating all the time as well.