New System Detects Calls While Driving

Gary writes "Talking on your cellphone while driving isn't a crime in most states, but it should be. Studies have shown that people who drive and talk are many times more likely to have an accident. A new company is releasing a device to automatically detect drivers talking on their cell phones. Instead of police officers needing to observe a cellphone in use, the system automatically detects a cell phone call and records which car was making the call." The article is fairly light on details, but it would be interesting to see how the system differentiates from a driver talking on a cell phone versus a mere passenger.

Comments

Sooo...

[Tuoqui]

Who thinks a blow up doll in the car will fool this technology?

Legal cell phone use

[arth1]

There's plenty of legal cell phone use in cars too, even if it's not a passenger doing it.

• Hands-free systems
  
• Systems like OnStar, where you can get a weather report at the touch of a button.
  
• GPS systems that automatically download maps for nearby areas
  
  • ... and probably a lot more.
    
    

Re:Legal cell phone use

[pete-classic]

I disagree. Talking on a hands-free system isn't as good as just driving the freakin' car, but it is better than using a handset.

I ride a motorcycle, and have, therefore, become a keen observer of other people's driving habits. I believe there is a clear hirearcy of cell phone related bad driving.

1. Email/SMS (Should be punishable by summary execution.)
2. Dialing (This seems to be far and away the most common cause of really bad driving.)
3. Talking on a handset. (It seems to create a total lack of awareness of the cell phone side of the vehicle. Not sure why.)
4. Hands free (Potentially less dangerous than talking with a passenger.)

You can make various arguments that talking to someone who isn't in the car requires more attention, but I think this is more than offset by the visual distraction of conversing with a passenger.

There are several other common distractions. Fiddling with the stereo, disciplining children, applying makeup, and eating come to mind. Map reading ranks. I actually saw a guy reading a novel while merging onto the highway about a week ago. Unreal.

Anyway, I think voice dialing is a HUGE win, and hands free talking has noticeably less negative impact on driving in my experience.

I would genuinely like to know why you disagree.

-Peter

So where's my insurance rebate?

[gelfling]

Tell you what, Nanny State, you criminalize the phone. But in exchange I want massive reductions in my car insurance because now everyone is safe and snug.

Not just cell phones

[badc0ffee]

I was driving down the freeway with all the other traffic doing about 70MPH when I noticed this blond in the car next to me putting on her makeup in the rear view mirror. She started creeping into my lane, and upset me so much I dropped my cell phone into my coffee, which got my donuts all wet and soggy.

I go for a bicycle ride every morning and have noticed that in about 1 of 4 cars, the driver is either not looking at the road while dialing, talking or just finishing a call. If I have to cross traffic, I make sure the driver sees and acknowledges my presence. If they are on a cell phone, even at a stop sign, they are either oblivious to my presence or the invisibility cloak is working.

Re:Here it comes

[Sunburnt]

why not flood us with links to statistical studies proving your inferred point?

I'll start.

From the study:

The principal findings for this experiment are that: (a) SPs [study participants] that engaged in cell phone conversations missed twice as many simulated traffic signals as when they were not talking on the cell phone, (b) SPs took longer to react to those signals that they did detect, and (c) these deficits were equivalent for both hand-held and hands-free cell phone users.

Re:it's just a hidden tax

[BroadwayBlue]

But why single out talking on cell phones? Where is the system to detect an intense conversation with a passenger, changing the radio station, fumbling with the A/C controls in a rental car, a crying baby in the back seat.... We've accepted that driving is hazardous. Everybody on the road knows it. News flash, there are irresponsible or distracted drivers out there; look out! A driver should be able to safely speed away from someone that is doing something that is stupid. A driver should be able to call the police when they drive by someone who is in trouble. Driving will always by a highly variable and highly hazardous situation that one voluntarily puts themselves in. That little yellow line isn't going to stop someone from drifting over onto your side of the road. You have to pay attention constantly. It shouldn't matter what other people are doing; assume everyone is drunk, distracted, or whatever and adjust your driving accordingly. Stop worrying about them and make sure you are doing what is necessary to stay safe. You only have control of your own situation. A thousand laws won't give you control over someone else.