October 14th, 2008
New Technology Developed to Stop Drivers from Using Cell Phones While Driving
By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
While some states have banned or considered banning text messaging while driving or driving without a hands-free setup, some experts contend that even with those restrictions, drivers are still too distracted when using a cell phone.
Not only that, low fines (let’s face it, with regards to the hands-free law in California, $20 for the first offense and $50 for later ones is ridiculously low) mean that some drivers (and I see plenty of them doing so) flout the law. So what if you could detect that a car was in motion and prevent the use of a phone?
Aegis Mobility, a Canadian software company, announced on Monday that it has developed software called DriveAssist which will detect if a cell phone is moving at car speeds (so unless you’re The Flash you don’t have to worry about it when you are walking or running).
When someone tries to call or SMS a user with DriveAssist on their phone, they’ll get a message that the person is driving and can’t answer the phone or read a text message. The caller can then leave a message, send an audible alert or request a callback.
As required by law, the service always allows 911 calls. Passengers can override DriveAssist, as well (though how it differentiates a passenger from a driver is unclear).
Aegis is partnering with an insurance company, Nationwide Mutual Insurance. Yes, that one, the one that says its “on your side.” Nationwide plans to offer a discount of from 3 - 10% on family policies for people who use DriveAssist.
Of course, in order for this to work, Aegis has to have carrier support. That hasn’t happened yet, but according to their press release, the service will be offered next year though carriers. It’s unclear how much the service would cost, but a 3 - 10% discount would probably offset the cost, estimated to be $10 to $20 a month.
Interestingly, Aegis Mobility spokesperson David Teater has a personal interest in making the technology work: in January of 2004 his 12-year-old son Joe was killed when a driver ran a red light while distracted by a cell phone. He said:
“Research has confirmed that the distraction associated with cell phone use is much more dangerous than originally suspected. This problem has grown out of the rapid adoption of mobile technology and our need to stay connected. Aegis Mobility has created the first effective technology solution for this issue.”
OP says:
What a crappy idea …
October 14th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Arlen says:
So if the passenger can override it, what’s to stop the driver from doing so? And if the driver has to choose to use it, then what’s the purpose?
October 14th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
T says:
Lets hope this kind of interference in our lives FAILS
October 14th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Daniel says:
Soo, what keeps a driver from telling the phone they are a passenger?
October 14th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Angie says:
Right on!! I am so glad to see that this subject is not getting tossed aside. I am interested in knowing how this will work if there are more then one person using a cell phone in a single vehicle.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
LZW says:
Seems like looking in the mirror while putting on lipstick would be worse for drivers… At least women don’t need to look in a mirror to talk on a cell phone.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:27 am
Ban Cell Phones in Cars! says:
Cell phone use by drivers should definitely be banned - those SUV drivers are dangerous enough without that type of distraction!!!
October 15th, 2008 at 5:55 am
dave says:
you guys have misread this situation. if it can be over-ridden, then it’s a good thing, a servant of the user which cuts out distracting calls unless you choose not to
October 15th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
what? says:
I am a physician. I don’t need to speak on the mobile phone when I drive. My patients need to speak to me. It’s not like everyone who speaks on their mobile while driving do so for fun.
October 16th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Kayla says:
this is bull me iam 18
and i text all the time while driving okayyy.
and i aways talk qhile driving!
kayy
so you should not band people from use cell phone !
thanks
kayla
January 28th, 2009 at 3:06 pm