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

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