DoT exploring technology that would disable cell phones in cars

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/131845-dot-looks-to-disable-cell-phones-in-cars

DoT exploring technology that would disable cell phones in cars
By Sara Jerome - 12/03/10 10:52 AM ET


The Transportation Department is looking into technology to disable cell phones in vehicles, according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

"There's a lot of technology out there that can disable phones and we're looking at that," LaHood said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

"A number of those people came to our distracted driving meeting here in Washington and that's one way," he said.

LaHood seemed to suggest that this technology has a good chance of making its way into cars.

"I think it will be done," he said.

Wireless companies see signal scrambling technology as a blunt instrument in the fight against distracted driving, pointing out that cell phones are just one distraction in the car.


UPDATE: DoT spokeswoman Olivia Alair confirmed that the department is examining this technology. She added that the department has "no intention" at this point to require it. She pointed to a statement from LaHood that said his campaign has focused on "raising awareness, getting good laws on the books, stepping up enforcement, and most importantly, taking personal responsibility."

[cutlassmama]

1. I had appointments and errands all day today and must have seen a

dozen or so people either talking on their phone or texting while NOT paying attention to driving. It irks me to no end. Pull over if you need to use the phone that bad!

[emilyg]

2. A woman on her cell drifted

into my lane - thank God I was alert.

[cutlassmama]

8. that stuff happens all the time. It happened all day today. It's really

dangerous.

[Subdivisions]

3. Cell phones cutting into OnStar profits, Mr LaHood? I wonder who is

invested in the technology that can block cell phones in cars.

Don't get me wrong. Driving while on a cell phone is stupid. But so is driving without a seatbelt. Yet the seabelt law seems to work pretty darn good.

[laconicsax]

4. I guess having a passenger being able to dial 911 to report drunk/reckless drivers is a bad thing.

There are all sorts of situations where using a cell phone in a car isn't a bad thing.

[TBF]

5. People read in the car (newspapers while commuting), put on makeup, eat, smoke, and

god knows what else while they are driving. It is all distracting. Will it all be monitored?

[sarcasmo]

6. This is not what our government needs to be spending money on.

[iamtechus]

7. I don't give this approach much of a chance.

There are long-standing federal and international laws which make it illegal to block radio signals. While you can currently buy equipment to do this, it is illegal: http://www.chinavasion.com/index.php/cName/security-equipment-jammers/

In addition to the legal considerations there are other good reasons not to do this: Some people, like myself, have health conditions which could put us in serious danger while we are out on the road and we need to have the use of our cell phones. That's the main reason I started carrying a cell.

[marybourg]

9. Unfortunately, people find it all too easy to excuse themselves

from exercising personal responsibility ("this is real important", "just this once won't hurt", "I'm a good driver", "other people put on make-up in the car").

[WinkyDink]

10. Would that include someone who pulled over to report being followed or threatened, and didn't want

to exit the vehicle?

Or just anyone who remained in a parked car to talk?

STUPID IDEA.