The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended on Tuesday that states outlaw texting, emailing and talking on cell phones while driving, even with the aid of hands-free systems. Of her department’s proposal for regulation NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said; “…no call, no text, no update is worth a human life.” But even the NTSB’s own recommendations about what’s safe and what’s not are muddy and smell more politics on the eve of an election year than a tangible safety directive aimed at saving lives. [click to continue…]
From the category archives:
Safety
Will bikers accept electronic devices tracking their every move – even for a safer ride? It’s the first time we’ve seen vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) telematics solutions being developed for motocycles. BMW Motorrad is developing ConnectedRide, an intelligent transportation system specially designed to help keep bikers safe. A concept for the system was demonstrated at the annual Motorrad Innovation Day 2011, you can see the BMW Motorrad video at the end of this post. [click to continue…]
In its newly-launched ad campaign targeting texting and driving, BMW is attempting to not only raise awareness about the dangers of texting/talking on a cellphone while piloting a vehicle, but is also defending its investment in hands-free in-car technologies. It comes as some begin to question whether these kinds of platforms are equally distracting for drivers on the road. [click to continue…]
After Ford, Audi and BMW all revealed plans for hands-free infotainment platform (Ford’s Sync technology is already well-known and well-received), General Motors will finally take a step beyond its OnStar roots with MyLink. The American car company says it will introduce its rival to Ford’s Sync platform that can provide text messaging, emails, traffic warnings and other hands-free functions.
The studies are conclusive – driving while using a cell phone is dangerous! It’s called distracted driving and an important study out of the University of Utah has demonstrated that using a cell phone while driving carries roughly the same risk as driving with a .08 (legally drunk) blood alcohol level. Many people are turning to hands free devices like Bluetooth headsets and voice activated technology. But some evidence shows that you’re still distracted while using technology designed to keep you safe. Let’s a take a closer look at what that study says about distracted driving and what you can do to mitigate your distractions. [click to continue…]