Eliminating driver texting

[jclay]

It occurred to me that if cell phones could determine that they were in a moving automobile or truck they could be programmed to disable texting.

All modern vehicles are controlled by digital engine management units, and integrated Bluetooth technology is available and inexpensive; the fundamental communications backbone and vehicle operational data necessary to inform nearby cell phones of vehicle movement exists. Further, determination of cell phone proximity to the drivers seat (as opposed to the other seats) seems a feasible addition. Requiring all vehicle and cell phone manufacturers to employ a uniform approach to disable, for example, bidirectional texting and audio transmissions from cell phones in the proximity of drivers seats in vehicles that aren't in Park would be technologically simple. That would reduce motor vehicle related deaths, maimings, tragedies visited upon surviving families and costs to society at large. Seems awfully beneficial to me.

There are no technical hurdles to this, only human. So how does one sell this to, or otherwise make it happen in, a society that has become enured to 40,000 motor vehicle deaths per year?

[Jonathan]

Welcome to 2009, John. Google "Ray LaHood". That's a good start.

[jclay]

Welcome to 2009, John. Google "Ray LaHood". That's a good start.

So much for yesterday's flash of insight, and misplaced desire for optimism. Depressing. Adults refusing the requirement to act like adults. So what's new?

[Too Tall]

John, would you enjoy standing on a street corner holding a placard decrying the lunacy of texting and driving? Form a meetup group, good idea right?
*Moving this to the OT where it belongs.

So much for yesterday's flash of insight, and misplaced desire for optimism. Depressing. Adults refusing the requirement to act like adults. So what's new?

[Jonathan]

So much for yesterday's flash of insight, and misplaced desire for optimism. Depressing. Adults refusing the requirement to act like adults. So what's new?

We had this fight in Tallahassee too. The phone lobby is really strong. I have a pal who does lobby work for the space industry look into what was happening behind the scenes and it was the cellular firms. They gutted the texting bill. His only recommendation for how to top those guys would be to enlist the help of MADD and the Tourism industry.

On a national level, now that the economy is better the automakers probably would like to sell and up charge new required technology.

[Saab2000]

This is treated like drunk driving was 40 or 50 years ago - with a wink and a nod. When drivers who kill people while texting (it's easily demonstrable with phone records) are charged with vehicular homicide like drunks who kill are charged, it will have an effect. Until then it probably will be hard to stop. I don't know how the technology can determine if a passenger is using a phone to text or if it's a driver.

But legislators need to grow some balls and just outright ban it. it's been done in many other countries. Some states have banned handheld device usage while driving.

[bgav]

I'm all for states' rights, but the Federal Goverment needs to force states to pass handheld use bans or else they don't get Federal Highway revenue. Once they do this, that will push the technology side. Unfortunately as noted, lots of industry lobbyist money fighting this.

[jclay]

We had this fight in Tallahassee too. The phone lobby is really strong. I have a pal who does lobby work for the space industry look into what was happening behind the scenes and it was the cellular firms. They gutted the texting bill. His only recommendation for how to top those guys would be to enlist the help of MADD and the Tourism industry.

On a national level, now that the economy is better the automakers probably would like to sell and up charge new required technology.

Thanks Jonathan. Now I know where my next letter goes.

[thollandpe]

I worked for a man who had a maxim, "Pay people to behave the way you'd like them to behave."

Worth considering. But well known by the communications companies and their lobbyists who are adept at bollixing up any legislative attempts to restrict cell phone use.

[Bob Ross]

There are no technical hurdles to this, only human. So how does one sell this to, or otherwise make it happen in, a society that has become enured to 40,000 motor vehicle deaths per year?

Eliminate humans.





:)