Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Google Fighting Distracted Driver Laws

Posted by Soulskill on from the think-of-it-as-driving-on-hard-mode dept.

Rambo Tribble writes "Reuters reports Google has initiated lobbying efforts to stymie attempts by some states to enact distracted driver laws aimed at wearable technologies, such as Google Glass. 'Google's main point to legislators is that regulation would be premature because Google Glass is not yet widely available, the state elected officials say. Illinois state Senator Ira Silverstein, a Chicago Democrat who introduced a Google Glass restriction bill in December, responded that it was clear the merchandise was heading for the broader public.' Given the toll on our highways shown to arise from distracted drivers, is this responsible corporate behavior to protect their product, or an unethical endangering of lives?"

3 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. Bill specifically about Glass is a bad idea... by Kenja · · Score: 5, Interesting

    However general legislation against using digital devices can be done right. The issue we start to run into is things like do touch screens built into the dashboard count or windscreen HUDs like what BMW has in the works.

    --

    "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    1. Re:Bill specifically about Glass is a bad idea... by dryeo · · Score: 5, Informative

      All the evidence I've seen is that having a conversation with an occupant in the vehicle is much safer then using a cell phone. This is mostly due to the occupant having situational awareness so when some tricky piece of driving shows up, they shut up or at least know why you're ignoring them. On top of this is that an occupant can also point out dangerous situations such as yesterday when my wife screamed stop as someone was in my blind spot and going for the same parking spot I was.
      I hate talking on the cell when in traffic as the other end has no idea of what is happening and can get uptight just by the conversation being interrupted by having to shift gears.
      The dash display can be ignored whereas a heads up display can be more in your face. How often do you need to look at your dash?

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
  2. Re:It's not HUDs, it's what kinds of HUD by east+coast · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If using HUDs or other kinds of electronic instruments were inherently dangerous, they wouldn't routinely be used by aircraft pilots.

    When you have thousands of hours of driving theory classes, simulator time and coached road driving in a vehicle where the coach can take over the vehicle in a moments notice then you can start to talk about how your driving a car compares to a pilot in a jet.

    Most pilots have more time in simulators than most drivers get in their first few years of driving. Comparing the two is a joke and you know it.

    --
    Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.