Customer Logins
Obtain the data you need to make the most informed decisions by accessing our extensive portfolio of information, analytics, and expertise. Sign in to the product or service center of your choice.
Customer LoginsBan all non-emergency cell phone use in vehicles?
On Tuesday, the NTSB recommended the ban of all non-emergency use of portable electronic devices (other than those designed to support the driving task) for all drivers. Wow! That is a big statement for the auto industry considering all of the connectivity plans the OEMs have and will roll out in their new product launches.
I think telematics and connectivity in vehicles hold an enormous potential to bring added safety and attention to driving. Examples of telematics programs focusing on safety today that this recommendation would interfere with include Ford's My touch and Sync solutions, which bring added safety with voice activation. In addition, Mercedes uses telematics to alert the driver of blind spot activity and even stops the vehicle if the driver doesn't respond. Other opportunities exist with instant notification of vehicle maintenance, traffic accidents and the future benefit of vehicle to infrastructure communication.
Even if this recommendation does not get implemented in any of the 50 states, this NTSB announcement should be seen as a warning that we need to focus our attention on driving vehicles and to stop all the multi-tasking. This recommendation by the NTSB and countless speeches I have heard over the years from NHTSA representatives are saying the same thing. We need to focus on driving and making the vehicle a safer environment. If product planners and automotive marketing groups continue to emphasize the social aspect of telematics and connectivity instead of safety, these recommendations will definitely lead to bans on portable devices while driving in some states.
At the end of the day, OEMs need to take the utmost responsibility for making the vehicles safer to drive. Now the big question is... Can the OEMs make mobile phone use and Internet connectivity in the vehicle safe? I believe they can, but what are your thoughts?
Posted by Margaret Zewatsky, Product Strategist, Polk (12.15.2011)