Apple Sued for Choosing Not to 'Lock-Out' iPhones Behind the Wheel to Prevent Texting and Driving

[Mlrollin91]

Niantic are way better at being traffic police then software developers.

Yep. Got our first update today in almost a month. Minor text fixes and fixed GPS drift. The one thing that made up for distance tracking being broken is now fixed. So no more hatching eggs while sitting on your couch. But they can't make distance tracking work properly.

 

[Pirate515]

The Hands free law should be national not state based. Don't blame Apple, blame the government, and mindless people.

Then they would have to post federal agents all over the country to enforce them. I believe for that reason alone all motor vehicle matters are left to states and enforcement is in the hands of local police and state troopers.

 

[WRChris]

Ask your doctor about that. One, if you are on call you do _not_ go out to grab a bite to eat (you may have a microwave nearby; you can take calls on your phone while using the microwave).

The number one rule when something goes wrong is: Don't make it worse. Should that doctor be out in his car when clearly he shouldn't, and there's a phone call, what are the chances it's a call that will save a little boy's/girl's life? (Or an adult's life? Are you trying to make a "think of the children" appeal? Don't you think that's pathetic? ) Chances are really slim. What are the chances if he picks up the phone that he causes an accident that might kill a little boy/girl, or an adult? And maybe kills the doctor as well?

No one can tell me when I can or cannot use my phone. If I'm driving down the road and my father calls, I answer that every time. I will not text and drive but you can't tell people they can't. They are in their own vehicle, using the phone they paid for on a plan they pay for. I worry about people texting and driving but if they don't hit me how can I tell them not to use their phone?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Better your girlfriend gets into a fatal accident than your girlfriend and you getting into a fatal accident.

Most people would become a danger to themselves and others if they heard that their girlfriend has died while driving a car. It would be much better if you don't find out until you stop driving. And it's totally irrational. Getting bad news, when you can't do anything to fix it, doesn't help you or anyone.

I think you are missing the point. If I find out she is about to die and I can get there (safely) before that time, then obviously I'm going to. Taking away all phone connectivity would then remove that option entirely. I wouldn't get to see her again. Answering your phone is not illegal. This person (I was quoting) wants to make all cellular connectivity impossible.

 

[Pape_TT]

If you read the article, the problem isn't that this guy doesn't know how to put his phone down. He was rear-ended himself by someone who was texting while driving. I think he has a valid point and lawsuit against Apple.

I honestly hope he wins this case. I've been also trying to request that Apple implement some feature that would allow automatic responses to text messages while driving, something as simple as "I'm driving right now, this is an automated response, will respond later."
[doublepost=1484766401][/doublepost]

You start off with suing Apple. Once you win a lawsuit against Apple, people are sure to go after all the other companies.

There is only one other company, google. Not Samsung or LG because most of android phone manufacturers are hardware companies using google software.

 

[WRChris]

Yep. Got our first update today in almost a month. Minor text fixes and fixed GPS drift. The one thing that made up for distance tracking being broken is now fixed. So no more hatching eggs while sitting on your couch. But they can't make distance tracking work properly.

I know man don't get me going about Niantic lol. I don't have enough time to list all my complaints with that company. The Pokémon company should have just stuck with gamefreak

 

[alexgowers]

There literally is no case here.

 

[gnasher729]

So, Americans are stupid and use their phones and endanger themselves and others. But, let's blame Apple and force them to change the way their products work? Sounds like a typical neo-liberal agenda to me. Unreal.

Well, it's not limited to America. There's a road in Germany where two pedestrians killed themselves by crossing the road while watching their phones and not the traffic, so they put red and green LED lights into the ground where you can see them while looking at your phone and stop if the lights are red :-(

 

[Pumpkin King]

entirely possible to just disable the driver seat devices using low power rfid or steering wheel proximity sensing.

Absolutely not. 1) That would require cooperation of ALL car manufacturers so is not in any way in Apple's court to implement, and .....more importantly.....2) I can reach over to the passenger seat while I'm driving, can't you?

 

[JAdmiral]

Yeah, that's all I need... someone else to be another parent in my life.

 

[modemthug]

Wow, americans need to be babied like this? Just put the damn phone down and use it when you're at your destination. Not hard.

No, just Californians

 

[AppleFan1998]

Wow, americans need to be babied like this? Just put the damn phone down and use it when you're at your destination. Not hard.

Hey! It's not only Americans, it's stupid people all over the world in general that agree with that argument.

 

[BeforeTheMeds]

The best thing the us could do is build a wall between the rest of the us and ca.

If implemented that would rate right up with outlawing a rifle because of the shape of its grip.

 

[thekev]

Wow, americans need to be babied like this? Just put the damn phone down and use it when you're at your destination. Not hard.

The lawsuit won't go anywhere because it's unfounded. You still managed to misinterpret the issue in spite of this. Efforts to curb the use of phones while driving do not protect you from yourself. They protect you from other drivers, who may otherwise be distracted. Now go troll somewhere else.

 

[paul4339]

The problem is irresponsible adults are not killing themselves, they are killing others. Would you still be this way if a responsible loved one of yours was killed by an irresponsible adult? Does anyone know the percentage of car deaths caused by irresponsible others?

Yes, I would 100% still feel that way, because the proposed "solution" is utter nonsense. I would demand the person responsible be held accountable for their actions and punished.

All devices have on/off buttons. The same problem occurred years ago with cell phones distracting drivers - many regions made it illegal (turn off your phone) or get a hands free solution in your car.

With smartphone it's similar but the distraction is worse (the driver takes their eyes off the road).
The solution, for now, is the same: turn off/put away your phone (mute your messages) or get a solution (like Carplay or voice texting).

The question should be: who is ultimately responsible for the safe operation of a vehicle? The driver or the phone?

 

[Pape_TT]

I have a number 2 pencil on my desk that doesn't have a method to prevent me from shoving it into my eye repeatedly. I'll of course be seeking class certification in my soon to be filed suit.

Did you read the whole article? He sue apple because he was rear ended by someone who was texting while driving. So the logic is you have a #2 pencil on your desk and one of your co-worker gone rogue and shoving it into your eye repeatedly, you probably will sue your co-worker not the #2 pencil manufacturer. Julio need to sue the driver who cause the accident not apple IMO. All people know they are not suppose harm or kill other people but some still do. There is bad apple in every basket, Julio need to get a life IMO.

 

[gnasher729]

This will never see the inside of a courtroom. It will be dismissed probably almost immediately. There is no ground for the suit.

Well, strictly speaking it _will_ see the inside of a courtroom. Unless the case is so stupid, and the weather is nice, so the judge dismisses the case on the steps outside the court house

 

[Glavin]

The class action lawsuit against eyeliner and lipstic manufacturers who refuse to implement this same safety feature needs to go to the front of the line.

 

[wigby]

While this will go nowhere, and may be extreme. Something needs to be done about phone usage when driving. I stopped commuting by bike because of too many close calls with texting/facebooking drivers.

Perhaps I was one of them. Seriously, this problem will not go away unless there is a technical solution for it. I drive while using my phone every day and so does every single driver around me. It's called bumper to bumper traffic and a long boring commute. We will each continue to use our phones until we hit something or someone or until they are somehow bricked. It's really that simple.

 

[inscrewtable]

Whether this latest complaint has merit will be up to the court to decide.

It would be more interesting to do an in depth report on the people who file these impossible to prosecute but nevertheless widely reported idiotic supposed lawsuits.

 

[big-ted]

So if Apple has a patent for the technology, what happens if you have an Android device?

For everyone saying car manufactures should fit sensors, are the car manufactures going to retro fit all cars made in the last hundred years

If the software can detect if the driver is using a phone I assume it can detect if you are driving a LHD or RHD car no matter which country you are driving in

 

[Pape_TT]

It would be awful! And what would be limited to the lockout. Maps, Music, CarPlay?

I can't believe lawyers are wasting their time on this. This is what gives lawyers a bad name. Luckily once I'm done with Law School I won't mess with this nonsense!

When you finish your school and become a lawyer, you will be very suprise. Not all lawyers take cases to win, some do take cases to put there name out in the world.

 

[Mlrollin91]

When you finish your school and become a lawyer, you will be very suprise. Not all lawyers take cases to win, some do take cases to put there name out in the world.

But there is also an aspect of doing things that are morally correct. I don't care what 'being shady' pays, my conscious and sleep are worth too much.

The main lawyer of the firm that took this case went to a really bad law school. So you are probably right about trying to make a name for himself.

 

[Pape_TT]

Why sue apple only? With their logic, they should sue Samsung, Sony, LG, google any literally every other company that creates and sells said devices. Why? Because I don't see those restrictions on any other device. Someone could just as easily text or skype video call from any other device.

Absolutely insane.

How can he sue Samsung or any other hardware manufacturers? They all use android software which is google. To hardware manufacturers defense, hardware already has on/off button to prevent texting while driving.

 

[Cycling Asia]

Here's a thought (equally as stupid) how about filing a class action suit against car manufacturers because cars can be used while texting? I mean there are devices that can lock a car if the motorist is deemed too drunk to drive - why not a device the detects if the driver is too distracted to drive?

Or how about (a less stupid idea) is to impose heavy fines against the motorist who tests and drives? Perhaps the govt can implement a series of laws to make the process of using a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle illegal? Oh wait, they have that already, it must simply be that people still don't want to be responsible for their own actions.

Perhaps there will be a class action against gun manufactures for failing to implement a lock-out device on the firearms when pointed at police officers.