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

[Septembersrain]

It's my experience that those who "drive for their jobs" are often some of the worst drivers out there, especially American police officers who for some inexplicable reason think they have priority whenever they are on the road!

18 wheelers are the most dangerous and it's been studied that they are some of the most sleep deprived workers. I think I read it's like 3-4 thousand deaths a year.

Even with rules, regulations, companies will still push workers to get more done and on the quickest timeframe.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Apple needs to disable phones in cars.

Americans are incapable of driving and deciding for themselves that they shouldn't text and drive. Therefore, government needs to intervene in their lives, since the people are incapable of behaving properly.

Government is the solution to people behaving irresponsibly.

Personal responsibility just means government irresponsibility.

So you want to punish everyone because some drivers are idiots?

 

[PBRsg]

Did somehow macrumors.com redirect me to TheOnion.com?

You think THIS is funny? Google "thinkprogess editor afraid of his plumber". Thank me later.

 

[Rafagon]

I certainly hope this “feature” doesn’t get implemented. It would be wasting processor power taking care of stupid people who don’t know when or when not to text. Drivers need to be held accountable for their actions, not Apple. If a drunk driver gets into an accident, you don’t go and sue Anheuser-Busch.

 

[F1Mac]

How do you force people to behave properly?

That's the problem right there. You shouldn't have to force them to behave properly. My phone can buzz me all it wants, I'm not texting when I drive period - I might check my home screen at a red light but that's all.

 

[exterminator]

And I'm saying people don't have that common sense, and you deal with it from there.

Complaining about people being stupid is pointless.

People ARE stupid, and you develop public policy from there.

I partly agree with you there, but when it comes to this, people are not only stupid but also arrogant and selfish. For texting whilst driving puts also the life of others in danger. Which is why I am for licence-suspensions. Take away the iphone they will text with something else. Take away the licence, hopefully, they won't drive.

 

[yanki01]

'MERICA!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mlrollin91]

Yeah, we've got a fun 85 MPH toll road near Austin (I think hwy 130?). It's kinda fun but scary too. A lot of people here in San Antonio reprogram the governors on their cars. While it's illegal, most LEOs don't even check for that kind of thing.

I think if you limited cars to 80MPH here, people would just find software programming or mod their engines.

Just like I think if they do find a way to restrict Apple, some jailbreak might come along and void it.

I think personal responsibility for actions needs to be emphasized.

Absolutely. My GTI is limited to 124mph. Top speed of my car is 153mph. I can spend $699 on a tune sold by APR which removes the limit and increased top speed to 165mph.
[doublepost=1484760995][/doublepost]

Perhaps cars in California only have one seat?

Ha! Not my car!

 

[iReality85]

Sounds like someone didn't have car insurance, and thus didn't get his payout for what wasn't his fault...

That or this guy is a liberal snowflake, being from Cali and all.

He should be slammed for filing a frivolous lawsuit. And people wonder why the US courts are backed up, because of crap like this.

 

[coolfactor]

Well then add McDonalds Wendy's , Jack-in-the-Box and all of the fast food places plus all of the supermarkets because eating while driving can be just as distracting and dangerous.

Exactly, and these places ENABLE it by having drive-thrus!

 

[Whimseh]

Let's sue food companies too. And kids, let's sue kids because they distract drivers. Can we sue those dumb rednecks too with the big distracting trucks?

No one gets to lock me out of my phone, my property, except me. Stupid people wanting money.

 

[bodonnell202]

Your society has always been stupid. Personal responsibility isn't a public policy solution.

My society? Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe that texting and driving should be illegal (and it is where I live), but blaming Apple for other people's poor decisions is ridiculous and just adds to the already out of control victim culture that exists today where no one thinks they need to take responsibility for their own actions. This is about the same as suing McDonalds because you spilled the hot coffee you bought there on your own lap.

 

[Drexus]

I can’t imagine what might come next. Possibly the long list of litigation against the manufactures who give us computers (for exposing us to identity theft — they should just stop that for us) or what about guns or cars? It would be just as realistic that the car manufacture not allow the driver to operate a vehicle while using a mobile device. Forget the impossible technical hurdle this represents, how is it responsibility is on the manufacture?

Why not sue the state for not providing crash-proof roads? Such nonsense.

 

[Labeno]

Frivolous trash like this makes me really angry. I don't need a nanny in the car controlling what I do. Adults are responsible for their own actions. Screw this money grubbing bitch.

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?

 

[mozumder]

It's my experience that those who "drive for their jobs" are often some of the worst drivers out there, especially American police officers who for some inexplicable reason think they have priority whenever they are on the road!

That's only your personal experience, which doesn't matter. What matters is the overall stats on safety.

So you want to punish everyone because some drivers are idiots?

Yes.

This is why you can't have nice things in your life, because other people ruined it for you.

 

[Mlrollin91]

That's only your personal experience, which doesn't matter. What matters is the overall stats on safety.



Yes.

This is why you can't have nice things in your life, because other people ruined it for you.

I'm all for punishing those that are guilty. But not allowing passengers in cars, buses, or trains to be able to use their phones??

 

[andy.ringwood]

yes. they are responsible, since they chose to implement a product without the available solution.

No they aren't. The person has to take responsibility. If they are stupid enough to use a phone behind the wheel, well, let that be a lesson.

 

[mozumder]

That's the problem right there. You shouldn't have to force them to behave properly. My phone can buzz me all it wants, I'm not texting when I drive period - I might check my home screen at a red light but that's all.

So, how do you force behavior without forcing behavior?
[doublepost=1484761260][/doublepost]

I'm all for punishing those that are guilty. But not allowing passengers in cars, buses, or trains to be able to use their phones??

The roads are for going from point a to point b.

THATS IT.

It's not an entertainment hotspot or your office.

 

[TonyC28]

So, how do you force behavior without forcing behavior?

With laws.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

..implement a lock-out mechanism that would disable an iPhone's functionality when being used behind the wheel by an engaged driver.

And how would that work, exactly? Even with active face recognition there's no way to actually tell which is the person behind the wheel. The only effective way of doing that is automatically disabling all devices in vehicles, which is not only plain idiotic but also unlawful. Even disabling the driver's device is dumb - what if you want/need to use maps/nav?

Also, how is this a class action lawsuit? People choosing to put their, as well as others', life in danger is not Apple's doing. Nor is this functionality invented exclusively for, or is unique to, Apple devices. But I guess it doesn't hurt to try and get dem Apple monies!! /s

 

[mozumder]

With laws.

What laws affect behavioral free will?

 

[Binglesworth]

Don't forget to include the Cell companies in the lawsuit. One can't text without the cell service. It is really their fault for allowing people to text.

 

[bodonnell202]

You don't. You disable all phones in the cars.

That is the best solution.

Great, so since people are stupid I'm now not allowed to catch up on email while taking the bus to work?

 

[tridley68]

Someone fancies a bit of publicity and the opportunity to make a few bucks from the same. ****.

you hit the nail on the head this person thinks they stand to make a lot of money when in reality if it goes anywhere his goofy lawyers are going to get the brunt of it what and idiot .

 

[Mlrollin91]

So, how do you force behavior without forcing behavior?
[doublepost=1484761260][/doublepost]

The roads are for going from point a to point b.

THATS IT.

It's not an entertainment hotspot or your office.

And trains and buses? We are talking about those that are passengers. You cannot take away passenger's phones because they are not breaking the law. Someone sitting in the backseat of a car for 4 hours deserves to be able to use their phone.

 

[mozumder]

Great, so since people are stupid I'm now not allowed to catch up on email while taking the bus to work?

Correct.

If you really want to read your email on a bus, you will have to figure out a way for people to not be stupid.

Thanks.