NTSB Demands Cell Phone Block And Total Nannyfication Of All Motor Vehicles
States and regulators should ban nonessential use of cellphones and other distracting portable electronic devices by operators across all modes of transportation – cars and trucks, planes, trains and vessels, and device manufacturers should perfect technology that disables cellphones and other devices when they are within reach of an operator while the vehicle is in operation. This draconian recommendation was made today by the National Transportation Safety Board NTSB, saying this could cut fatal highway accidents by more than half. the Associated Press says in a report.
The implementation would ban pretty much all cellphone use, even when used via Bluetooth and a hands-free kit. How drivers can be kept from using the phone while passenger can gab away is anybody’s guess.
The agency also recommends that “lane departure warning, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring, on-board monitoring (for commercial drivers), and speed-limiting technology” be made mandatory as standard equipment in all motor vehicles.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers already complained that the gadgets would add thousands of dollars to already richly priced cars.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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probably should also ban trying to eat a 10 pack of Tacos with a giant soda between your legs while driving. And ban tilt steering so you can't drive with your knees.
I'm constantly amazed by some of the comments I see here. Here's what's been happening: large numbers of people are dying in auto accidents. Worse, huge numbers are permanently disabled in horrible ways. People cry "why is this, what can we do to prevent it?" So research is done and gradually things are discovered that increase the number of accidents. Eating, makeup, cell phones are all contributors to death and destruction; those who say they're fine driving with one hand are overlooking the simple fact that your brain can't multitask very well. If you're focused on a text message or a phone call - or getting your eye shadow right or forcing another burger into your mouth - you're not paying full attention to driving. Texting while driving isn't certain death - but it does increase the chance of death or serious injury significantly. That's proven. Next, the results of this research was spread through the news media, drivers licensing agencies, insurance company handouts, etc. I don't think there's any licensed driver in the US that hasn't heard that doing other things while driving is a bad idea. But you didn't take it to heart; you make excuses and keep on doing those dangerous things. The toll in human life and health is too high and you can't control yourself, so now the government is going to step in to try to get you to be more responsible behind the wheel. Try this: there are "long term care" facilities in every community. They're full of broken people who are no longer capable of taking care of themselves or living a normal life. Grab a big box of cookies from your local store and go visit one. The cookies will be appreciated, and the people warehoused there would be thrilled to have some human contact. Plan to spend half of a day or more - and don't forget to ask each one what happened to put them in this position. You'll be surprised to discover that the vast majority of them got there as the result of an auto accident. And almost always it was caused by something completely unexpected that they didn't notice until it was too late. The chance you'll be killed or permanently disabled is higher than you think. Not so high that you couldn't break all the rules and live a long life - but high enough that even if you could, your wife and children might not be so lucky. Driving a motor vehicle is the most dangerous thing you'll ever do and so many seem to think they're indestructible. You're not, and those care homes and the cemeteries are full of people who thought they would never have an accident.
All of this reminds me why I will never buy a modern new car. My two daily drivers have: Manual transmissions No traction control Manual door locks Crank windows Analog gauges No tire pressure sensors No speed limiters I like to drive my car, not be driven by it. Past EFI and air bags, I have no use for over-technologized, overweight vehicles.
As long, as a semi-idiotic believe in new regulations (allegedly bringing progress and improvement) prevails in a given society you will end up in proposals like that. As long, as an idiotic proposal like that is not killed immediately by massive counter-actions on side of the public you will end up with more idiotic proposals. The more idiotic proposals are transformed into laws, the more your live becomes cumbersome (with the added bonus of paying higher taxes).