Using a mobile phone while driving is already illegal in seven states, and now the federal government is pressuring more states to enact bans. The National Transportation Safety Board has voted to make mobile phone use behind the wheel illegal, but it will be up to each state to decide whether or not to follow through and pass a law. The Governors Highway Safety Association says smartphones can be linked to 1 in 4 U.S. traffic accidents.
The eventual solution for many drivers may be to make their car their smart device while driving. Ford’s Sync software allows Ford and Lincoln drivers to connect their cars to their smartphones using Bluetooth. Drivers can use their voices to control several of their car’s features, and to send text messages using voice commands. RACO Wireless has created a voice-activated system for Audi’s smart cars that allows drivers to make calls and check messages without using their hands or their phone. The Audi also uses Bluetooth technology to connect to the driver’s smartphone. The system includes a display screen inside the vehicle, so it is not free of potential distractions. The need to look at a screen is also a concern with Siri, Apple’s voice control for the iPhone 4S, which allows drivers to use the phone with both hands on the wheel. Looking at maps and directions on smartphones is also a potential distraction, so automakers may soon find customers more eager to purchase cars that include GPS navigation systems in order to comply with new laws and still use GPS.
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Software developers are also marketing solutions that can help keep drivers safe. Location Labs has developed DriveSmart, an Android app offered through T-Mobile that can divert incoming calls to voice mail and send an “I’m driving now, let me call you later,” message in response to incoming text messages. DriveSmart can also alert parents if a user overrides the app.
