Carmakers to feds: Target all electronic devices March 13, 2012 Washington— Automakers told federal regulators they should crack down on electronic devices, such as smartphones, that are brought into cars. They say that focusing on vehicles alone won't solve the problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held the first of three hearings Monday before the agency finalizes voluntary guidelines to deter automakers from distracting drivers with vehicle electronics. Hearings are set for Chicago and Los Angeles this week. On March 23, NHTSA will hold a workshop on the technical details at its Vehicle and Research Test Center in East Liberty, Ohio. "Distracted driving is unsafe, irresponsible and can have deadly consequences," NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said. Automakers want at least another 60 days to comment before guidelines are finalized. They want to see the studies NHTSA relied on to create proposed guidelines. Strickland said NHTSA is considering the request. NHTSA in February unveiled guidelines urging automakers to design dashboard technology that limits the time that drivers must take their eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel. NHTSA wants automakers to disable time-consuming functions, such as text-messaging or Web browsing, unless the car is stopped and parked. In establishing the guidelines, the government drew heavily on recommendations drafted in recent years by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. Rob Strassburger, the alliance's top safety official, said drivers will shift to hand-held devices if cars can't have technological options. "If the use of one option is curtailed, drivers will migrate quickly to others that are not restricted," he said. NHTSA is considering a second batch of proposals to address use of smartphones and other devices brought into vehicles, as opposed to built-in gadgetry. They should be announced within a year. The agency has taken a more cautious approach than the National Transportation Safety Board, which in December recommended that states bar all phones calls, including hands-free calls behind the wheel that involve a portable device. That would still allow some calls made directly though an embedded cellular device such as General Motors Co.'s OnStar. Strickland said he and his staff were meeting with NTSB on NHTSA's guidelines on Monday. BMW North America vice president of engineering Tom Bologa said aftermarket devices and mobile devices are much less safe than technology built into vehicles. Some aftermarket accessories even allow drivers to watch video. "There needs to be regulations of these portable devices," he said. He argued that automakers can only do so much. "If cupholders … were banned from vehicles, does that mean people would no longer bring coffee into the vehicle?" Mercedes-Benz USA senior manager for safety affairs Markus Hess said the guidelines would require a "substantial redesign" of some of the automakers' in-vehicle systems. "This would be a resource intensive process ... and would not provide net safety benefits to the driving public," he said. Across the country, 35 states, including Michigan, have banned texting behind the wheel. Nine states have barred hand-held cell phone use. None have gone as far as what NTSB has sought. Strickland noted that drivers believe in the infallibility of their own driving. "People have an intrinsic trust in their own ability to drive. 'Everyone else stinks — I'm a fantastic driver. I can manage these additional tasks,'" he said. "We need to convey to people that you are not special." Source: (c) 2012 Detroit News. Provided by Proquest Information and Learning. All rights reserved. A service of YellowBrix, Inc.
i just can't picture them banning the use of a cell phone while driving....that is literally everything that people do here.
i just heard in a few citys here have already banned the use of cell phones completely. youre caught talking on your phone without a bluetooth or hands free system you get a ticket.
I just about got hit head on twice while coming in to work this morning by people texting/surfing on their damn phones.
Unfortunately this is what the world has come to. People don't have any self control, so the government has to step in to control us. This quote from the article above sums it up perfectly: I can't count how many times I've heard people say, "well some people can't text and drive, but I can, because I'm good at doing it. I know my phone like the back of my blah blah blah". I figured eventually states would start enforcing stricter laws about cell usage. Not really a big surprise. What surprises me is that no more then 9 states have banned hand held cell devices completely. I figure within the next 5 years more then 9 states will have jumped on board. As far as how I feel about laws like this, I disagree and agree. Cause honestly, there's a bunch of fuggers out driving around right now that shouldn't be driving and even chewing gum let alone updating their Facebook status or texting someone about what they did or what they're doing at the same time.
Or taker. Why do these idiots need to communicate at every second of their pathetic life. I believe all electronic devices for communication should be automatically disabled at more than 3 mph.
