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US Regulators Seek To Reduce Road Deaths With Smartphone 'Driving Mode' (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the bettering-things dept.

US regulators are seeking to reduce smartphone-related vehicle deaths with a new driving-safe mode that would block or modify apps to prevent them being a distraction while on the road. From a report on The Guardian:The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are to issue voluntary guidelines for smartphone makers, which will seek to restrict the apps and services accessible on a smartphone being used by a driver. US transport secretary Anthony Foxx said: "Your smartphone becomes so many different things that it's not just a communication device. Distraction is still a problem. Too many people are dying and being injured on our roadways." The NHTSA is hoping that Apple, Samsung and other popular smartphone manufacturers will adopt the guidelines in future smartphone and software releases. The so-called driving mode will block distractions such as social media, messages or email, stop the use of the keyboard for communication activities and also restrict access to websites, video and distracting graphics. The intention is that the driving mode will be adopted in a similar manner to the airplane mode common to most smartphones and connected devices, which restricts radio communications while airborne. Airplane mode has been a feature of smartphones since 2007.

8 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. stupid and too late by sxpert · · Score: 3, Insightful

    better put money in making autonomous vehicles more affordable...

  2. Disable maps by Snotnose · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Knowing how government works the first thing they'll disable while the car is moving is your navigation app.

  3. Please block portrait mode video by RogueWarrior65 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'd be happy with a feature that forces cellphones to shoot video in landscape orientation.

  4. Real world disconnect... by CODiNE · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm just guessing.... that maaaaybe these legislators don't ride the bus often?

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  5. All for education, but... by fyngyrz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Education is wonderful, but we can't fix stupid. Yet.

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    1. Re:All for education, but... by Gription · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Any time you automate an ability you lose that ability." People will never become better at driving as they are less a part of the driving experience then they were even a decade ago.

      This all misses the bigger level of stupidity of a whole NHTSA mandated "new driving-safe mode". How does a smart phone know what seat you are sitting in? If you want to hear a big outcry put the restrictions in place and wait for the passengers in cars, buses, and trains start to whine.with a new driving-safe mode.

      Just dumb, dumb, dumb...

  6. Re: Block everyone or the driver? by swillden · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Not really. I mean anyone who plays Pokémon Go (kid does) knows as soon as you speed up in a car the app asks you if you are the passenger and you have to click ok to continue.

    Thus creating an additional distraction for the driver, who now needs to look at his phone to find and tap the "I'm a passenger" button.

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  7. there are many other distractions. by anthony_greer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Before smartphones there were handheld cell phones, radios to be fiddled with, newspapers to be read, makeup to be applied, food to be eaten, and children in the back seat to be yelled at...all activities being done by people who have come very close to kitting me at one time or another....lets make and enforce law against distracted driving without singling out particular distractions.