U.S. Transportation Department Proposes Simplified 'Driver Mode' to Help Curb Distracted Driving

[MagnusVonMagnum]

The fact of cars having touch screen controls is not a defense for using them while in motion, especially if they require direct attention to operate them.

It's just a personal opinion but controls like that have no business being in a motor vehicle, and explains why so many drivers can't operate without the crutch of backup cameras, adaptive cruise, lane departure warnings, blind spot notifications, and other driving aids. The act of driving has taken a back seat to all the toys, which is quite sad.

Crutch? You sound defensive (about your driving skills), but you really only come across to me as sad. ANYTHING that can help save lives is a useful tool, not a "crutch". I've been driving for over 23 years and for 21 of those years I had a stick shift. I don't "need" a backup camera, but they are DAMN NICE, especially on taller vehicles or those with blocked rear views (whether someone sitting in the middle rear spot blocking the window or an RV or whatever where you can't see anything anyway). If some kid runs behind my car now, I can see him (even the best mirrors have blind spots). Call technology a "crutch" if you want, but crap happens and if one of those devices saves even one person from the horror of injuring or causing the death of someone, then they're a godsend, not a crutch. Do you call those round mirrors you put on side mirrors to help eliminate blind spots "crutches" also? Yes, you can adjust most mirrors to do the job (most have no clue exactly where to put them; I showed my mother and she HATES having the driver side mirror all the way out to the left because she wants to see the side of the car as a reference, but then that leaves a massive blind spot; the round mirror helps). Personally, I despise lane departure warnings because they're annoying (every on-ramp, they beep beep beep; I want to listen to the stereo in peace not hear pointless indications that I'm merging). But other people appreciate them. To each their own.

 

[840quadra]

I'm an old school driver and love driving. I take a defensive driving course every few years, to keep my insurance rates rock bottom.

The only "nanny" I have come to appreciate is the backup camera, it still doesn't take over for my eyes, but the viewport provides a window to what I can't see below the trunk when I'm sitting in the car waiting to leave the garage. The other stuff mentioned, I can leave it off. Of course you didn't mention traction control, which I believe is a federal requirement these days. I can switch it off, but why tempt fate?

Valid points indeed and thanks for that.

To be fair, I am not against technology advances for safety. I think many of them are great, and my cars have many of them. My issue is with how some (granted not all) rely on the technology, as opposed to paying attention on the road. I strongly feel that drivers training is too lax in the states, and wished we were closer (but perhaps not quite as extreme) to the requirements for Finland. Besides accident avoidance, learning car control, and having respect for what the physics of these machines are working with, would go a long way with keeping roads safer.

Like you, I also take classes, however I have to admit, I haven't taken a defensive driving class yet in my life (I should remedy that). I have, however done ice driving clinics (instructor based winter driving training), skid pad clinics, as well as high speed car control classes, and dabble in a sport called Autocross. I can't say the goal was 100% for safe driving, however the skills have saved me with avoiding winter and wet weather fender benders.

Despite the technology available, at the end of the day, a car is a heavy, and a dangerous piece of equipment. I think technology has it's place in modern driving and I too enjoy it, I just have a strong opinion about how some of it is used in a motor vehicle and have little acceptance for distraction being an excuse for poor / unsafe driving.

Crutch? You sound defensive (about your driving skills), but you really only come across to me as sad. ANYTHING that can help save lives is a useful tool, not a "crutch". I've been driving for over 23 years and for 21 of those years I had a stick shift. I don't "need" a backup camera, but they are DAMN NICE, especially on taller vehicles or those with blocked rear views (whether someone sitting in the middle rear spot blocking the window or an RV or whatever where you can't see anything anyway). If some kid runs behind my car now, I can see him (even the best mirrors have blind spots). Call technology a "crutch" if you want, but crap happens and if one of those devices saves even one person from the horror of injuring or causing the death of someone, then they're a godsend, not a crutch. Do you call those round mirrors you put on side mirrors to help eliminate blind spots "crutches" also? Yes, you can adjust most mirrors to do the job (most have no clue exactly where to put them; I showed my mother and she HATES having the driver side mirror all the way out to the left because she wants to see the side of the car as a reference, but then that leaves a massive blind spot; the round mirror helps). Personally, I despise lane departure warnings because they're annoying (every on-ramp, they beep beep beep; I want to listen to the stereo in peace not hear pointless indications that I'm merging). But other people appreciate them. To each their own.

I am really not sure why you are taking my comment so personal. Regardless, I hope my response to the OP above goes a bit into detail on my viewpoint.

At the end of the day it's my viewpoint, and should be taken as that only.

 

[shamino]

However, if the purpose of this proposal seems practical and noble enough, one should not lose sight of it being effectively a kill switch. One hardwired into the phone that could be deployed at other times, for other reasons, perhaps nefarious. Or a camel by this name, once with nose under tent eating everything.

Not really. They seem to be talking about the phone detecting when it is in motion faster than walking speeds and switching into a driving-mode. Not a remote kill switch that third parties can activate from remote.

Machine Learning face/car recognition AI, plus the requirement to take a selfie showing you not in the driver's seat after a vehicle starts moving fast enough, and before enabling texting, or any other non-navigation or non-emergency apps.

Have you actually used a phone with so-called facial recognition? I had an LG phone with this "feature" (to be used in lieu of a passcode to unlock the screen.) It never worked right. It would only recognize my face about 10% of the time. Changes in lighting, expression, facial hair and all kinds of things would completely confuse it.

And what about when the phone isn't in your hand? Like maybe mounted on your dash? Chances are that you aren't sitting in front of the lens. And do you think it is going to be able to detect the background well enough to distinguish the driver's seat from the passenger's seat or the back seat?

I think Apple got a patent on a mode which used the back camera to see if there was a steering wheel in front of you.

That would only work if the driver is holding the phone in front of him. Won't do a thing if it's on the dash or in the cup holder or somewhere else.

The problem with this whole concept is that it is nearly impossible to auto-detect if the phone is being used by the driver.

I've got a few apps that shut down when the phone is in motion faster than about 15mph. It doesn't really work. A driver can still play with it when moving at low speeds (like in a traffic jam). Passengers can't use it. It can't be used when on a bus or train.

Jesus Christ, is no one against this?

It's politically incorrect to support personal liberty over massive ineffective government regulation. And the proof is this discussion thread - all those who oppose the proposed mandate are insulted and abused, called baby killers and are told to go look at bloody crime-scene footage.

For most people it's easier just to shut up and read some other thread.

I think we should all just get Teslas and get self driving cars

Are you buying?

It stops when RF Jammers become cheap enough we just start installing them in theatres, cars, bicycles, police belts, trump rallies, and classrooms, and don't ask you to exercise good judgement and self control anymore.

And it starts again when someone dies from a heart attack in a theater because nobody could contact emergency services without leaving the building.

...self-driving vehicles are the ultimate controls because they remove human drivers from the loop.

You're assuming a far-distant future where not only do cars have self-driving capabilities, but where the manual-drive capabilities have been completely removed from the product.

 

[firewood]

Have you actually used a phone with so-called facial recognition? I had an LG phone with this "feature" (to be used in lieu of a passcode to unlock the screen.) It never worked right. It would only recognize my face about 10% of the time. Changes in lighting, expression, facial hair and all kinds of things would completely confuse it.

Recent software (DNN machine learning AI) can now identify faces and locations better than most people. If the camera and other sensors are on, the phone can tell when it's not in view of the driver of a moving car after a reasonable amount of time.

Restrictions on you are perfectly reasonable when you are operating a heavy metal weapon that can kill on roads that my taxes pay for. Using a mobile phone everywhere all the time can't be a right or necessity as billions of people did perfectly well without them less than 20 years ago (except for a few yachtsmen and ham radio types), even during medical emergencies.