US may disable all in-car mobile phones

[YosemiteSam]

No phone for you!

======================

The US government may require cars to include scrambling tech that would disable mobile-phone use by drivers, and perhaps passengers.

"I think it will be done," US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood said on Wednesday morning, according to The Daily Caller. "I think the technology is there and I think you're going to see the technology become adaptable in automobiles to disable these cell phones."


LaHood is on a self-described "rampage" against distracted driving, and if making it impossible to use a mobile phone while in a car can save lives, he's all for it — although, according to TDC, LaHood also emphasized the role of "personal responsibility."

In a Tuesday blog post announcing an online video series, "Faces of Distracted Driving", which presents first-person accounts of distracted-driving tragedies, LaHood noted that "Just last year, nearly 5,500 people were killed and 500,000 more were injured in distracted driving-related crashes.

"These lives, and too many others like them, were cut short — not because of malice, but because of carelessness," he added.

The problem is that the average driver doesn't think that he or she is an average driver: nearly two-thirds of drivers think of themselves as safer and more skillful than a driver of median safety or skills — a statistical impossibility, of course.

Complete Story

 

[TheCount]

They should maybe consider in-car breathalyzers that prevent drunk-start up before this, but what do I know.

 

[Faerluna]

They should maybe consider in-car breathalyzers that prevent drunk-start up before this, but what do I know.

They have that, it's usually part of probation for drunk driving arrests.

 

[TheCount]

They have that, it's usually part of probation for drunk driving arrests.

Yeah, I know it can be installed but I mean in all cars, instead of cell phone jammers in all cars.

 

[rkell87]

They should maybe consider in-car breathalyzers that prevent drunk-start up before this, but what do I know.

Yeah, I know it can be installed but I mean in all cars, instead of cell phone jammers in all cars.

this for sure would be the next logical step for safer driving but drunk driving stats are out, distracted driving is the en vogue thing now to get people elected

 

[Doomsday]

Big brother trampling on the majority cause of a few idiots out there. I have bluetooth and hands free in my car so I dont see how you can be distracted unless you are an idiot to begin with.

 

[theogt]

They also "may" inject sensors into our brains controlling our thoughts.

Just maybe.

 

[big dog cowboy]

The US government may require cars to include scrambling tech that would disable mobile-phone use by drivers

They should have done this.........five years ago.

 

[Nirvana]

In my buddy's new camaro it's all tricked out into the car's console that he can talk to people hands free and the other person's voice comes through the speakers. Just have all new cars do that going forward and require hands free devices by anyone not in such a vehicle. Treat violations the same way they already treat not wearing a seat belt in most states - a fine.

 

[theogt]

In my buddy's new camaro it's all tricked out into the car's console that he can talk to people hands free and the other person's voice comes through the speakers. Just have all new cars do that going forward and require hands free devices by anyone not in such a vehicle. Treat violations the same way they already treat not wearing a seat belt in most states - a fine.

Wow, that's impressive. Next thing you know, they'll have small TV screens in cars with maps on them showing you where to go.

 

[TheCount]

Wow, that's impressive. Next thing you know, they'll have small TV screens in cars with maps on them showing you where to go.

lol, you feeling rowdy, Theo?

 

[Cythim]

Big brother trampling on the majority cause of a few idiots out there. I have bluetooth and hands free in my car so I dont see how you can be distracted unless you are an idiot to begin with.

That is because you are part of the two-thirds who think they are better at driving than they really are.

 

[silverbear]

Yeah, I know it can be installed but I mean in all cars, instead of cell phone jammers in all cars.

Nobody, and I mean nobody, should be talking on a cell phone while driving... period...

We've become slaves to our telephones, and it's RIDICULOUS... which is why I don't own a cell phone, and refuse to own one... if you want to talk to me, call me at home, and if I'm not home, leave a message...

Oh, I owned one once, kept it in my glove box and never turned it on... I only had it for MAKING calls... and when I made a call, I pulled off the road, stopped and called... in fact, I once had a sheriff's deputy stop to check if I was having problems, and he was astounded when I told him why I was stopped... couldn't believe that anybody would put highway safety ahead of making a flippin' phone call...

Yes sir, I'm all in favor of this technology...

 

[silverbear]

In my buddy's new camaro it's all tricked out into the car's console that he can talk to people hands free and the other person's voice comes through the speakers. Just have all new cars do that going forward and require hands free devices by anyone not in such a vehicle. Treat violations the same way they already treat not wearing a seat belt in most states - a fine.

What the hell, pal, you can't be without your phone for the length of time you're on the road??

 

[silverbear]

Big brother trampling on the majority cause of a few idiots out there. I have bluetooth and hands free in my car so I dont see how you can be distracted unless you are an idiot to begin with.

Which of course keeps you safe from the moron in the other car with the cell phone pressed up against his ear while he eats his McDonald's fries and tries to steer with his knees...

Again I ask, why do you want to be a slave to your cell phone??

 

[silverbear]

They also "may" inject sensors into our brains controlling our thoughts.

Just maybe.

Hey, I wanna be put in charge of that... this world would be a far better place if I controlled everybody's thoughts...

 

[SaltwaterServr]

There was a pretty good study put out in England within the last two years that showed NO significant difference in hands free versus hand held cellular phone usage while driving. Both require your attention to be focused on the conversation more than the act of driving. Both impair your situational awareness to the extent of an equivalence of driving drunk.

Ban the living **** out of 'em.

 

[adamc91115]

Stupid idea...

Passengers' cellphones get jammed too? Thats nice.

Personally I don't talk on the phone while driving, hands free or not. But if someone wants to talk on their bluetooth, have at it. Its not any different than talking to a passenger.

Leave us alone big brother.

 

[Kevinicus]

Stupid idea...

Passengers' cellphones get jammed too? Thats nice.

Personally I don't talk on the phone while driving, hands free or not. But if someone wants to talk on their bluetooth, have at it. Its not any different than talking to a passenger.

Leave us alone big brother.

It is...unless you're one of those idiots that constantly looks at the passenger when they're talking to them.

 

[Joe Realist]

As I can see this as a good thing, wireless carriers and manufacturers will not let this happen.