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Right, voice commands, and voice activated functions are the solution to the texting and driving problem!
Why do you think we never see them encouraging people to use it though? Everytime I look around, they sound like a broken record. "dont text and drive, period"!! How about instead, encouraging more people to give 'voice' activated or Voice functions a try when in the car!!
Id think the cell phone companies would be all over this, obviously they dont want to see ANY laws restricting use of their products/service, this seems like its perfect for them, but again, even they dont seem to be encouraging people to use it in the car...I dont get it.
I think they worry about treading a fine line between unrestricted use and more draconian restrictions. The companies are literally walking on eggshells.
I think they worry about treading a fine line between unrestricted use and more draconian restrictions. The companies are literally walking on eggshells.
As popular as cell phones are today, this is one industry that SHOULD be extremely powerful and influential.
From reading other threads around the forum, plenty of people listen to audiobooks while driving. While this does not involve manual manipulation of the phone screen, it does involve concentration. For example, could one really absorb Shakespeare's Hamlet and drive with full concentration?
Similarly, the car's touchscreen is often a nightmare to use. For example, new Toyotas come with an Entune audio suite that a new owner must accept. Problem is it is useless. One of the "selections" is a Slacker Radio system, more or less a competitor to Pandora. If your finger slips and you hit the "Slacker" button rather than your auxiliary sound source button, escaping Slacker's coils is nearly impossible if you don't have an account with Slacker. Other manufacturers probably have similar devices.Even my wife's Ford's screen, while more straightforward, has many menu options, including Siri, with lots of channels and lots of genre's, AM/FM radio, and ability to switch to an auxiliary device.
Don't those involve the same loss of concentration? So why the focus on cell phone conversations? I agree that the manipulation of the screen to compose a text with one hand and handling the steering wheel with the other is a needless and dangerous challenge. But all electronics use is not created equal.
This article is a textbook case of what generates hysteria. There was a horrible accident. Texting may have been a factor. Snow may have also been a factor. The only way to eliminate automobile accidents is to ban driving.
This article is a textbook case of what generates hysteria. There was a horrible accident. Texting may have been a factor. Snow may have also been a factor. The only way to eliminate automobile accidents is to ban driving.
Ive always thought it was odd, people today are SO concerned with safety, and many are totally against the transition to self driving cars and trucks for this very reason...but at the same time, they seem to be totally fine with regular cars and trucks and the Billions of people that have been killed or injured as a result of car accidents, malfunctions, etc over the years (since the motor car was invented).
Im not hearing anyone calling for us to go back to horse and buggy or something else, that is not as dangerous.
I guess that means, people are OK with billions of deaths and injuries....for the sake of convenience!!
Im not hearing anyone calling for us to go back to horse and buggy or something else, that is not as dangerous. I guess that means, people are OK with billions of deaths and injuries....for the sake of convenience!!
It's the instinctive use of cost-benefit analysis. But don't forget equine-borne diseases.
Wow, amazing to see people trying to defend themselves and their illegal use of cell phones while driving. Driving to and from work daily the most common distraction I see in other vehicles are people using their cell phones. If talking on their phone they’re slowing down greatly backing up traffic. If reading or sending a text or responding to a social media post they’re oblivious to their speed and lane travel as well as traffic lights. It is so common that these people think EVERYONE does this because everyone they know does this.
Yes, distracted driving in general is a problem. That includes conversation with passengers, dealing with kids/pets, reading (books p, magazines, newspapers), putting on makeup, doing hair, doing nails, and playing with infotainment controls. But those things above aren’t done by as many people nor as frequently as using cell phones while driving. Some people are so addicted to their phone it’s in their hand before they start the vehicle. What makes it worse is the people most likely to use their phone while driving are new, young, inexperienced drivers. These are the drivers who should avoid using their phones while driving for several years until they gain actual driving experience. Distractions is one of the reasons why learners permits in some sort gates stipulate no teen passengers, only adult passengers like their parents for example.
Wow, amazing to see people trying to defend themselves and their illegal use of cell phones while driving. Driving to and from work daily the most common distraction I see in other vehicles are people using their cell phones. ...Yes, distracted driving in general is a problem. That includes conversation with passengers, dealing with kids/pets, reading (books p, magazines, newspapers), putting on makeup, doing hair, doing nails, and playing with infotainment controls. But those things above aren’t done by as many people nor as frequently as using cell phones while driving.
How could you possibly "see" inter-passenger conversations. Hand-held use of a phone is visible; nothing else is.
How could you possibly "see" inter-passenger conversations. Hand-held use of a phone is visible; nothing else is.
I watch the face of other drivers, mostly their eyes. You can get a sense of their intention and level of attention. When they’re singing or rapping to the music they look different than when talking. Most vehicles you can tell if there’s a passenger inside along with the driver. A person talking with no one else in the vehicle is talking either to themselves or to someone on the phone. Most commuters are alone in their vehicle. Watching other drivers’ faces is part of defensive driving.
We have a car that we rarely drive, a 2004 VW Passat that we bought new. It has about 125000 miles on it. 3 kids used it at college so it’s been well used but looks decent and runs perfect.
Every once in a while I will drive it and man, the dash is so nice and clean. Hardly any gadgets.
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