The main result of the MOU was a commitment by industry to incorporate a safety program into telematic design and development, adhering to industry-developed guidelines. In a nutshell, these are suggestions- and no solid regulations exist as of yet. Regulating driver distraction is still largely a work in progress- though carmakers are taking the matter seriously.
Handling a cell phone and driving is dangerous, so many automakers offer Bluetooth connectivity, allowing for voice-commanded phone calls as opposed to thumbing of the keypad in the middle of a lane change.
Hands free calling covers people who talk while driving, but not those who choose to read their tiny cell phone screens and type behind the wheel. I'm guilty of texting and driving too, though I quit cold turkey after nearly parking my car in the back of a transit bus.
Ford's answer is a system called Sync, which synchronizes one's iPod, cellular phone and other wireless gadgets through a central interface. It's controlled through steering-wheel mounted buttons and voice command, and it can even read your incoming text messages to you, so you don't try and read them while blowing a red light.
Sync was developed with help from Fords advanced VIRTTEX lab, which is dedicated to studying the effects of in-car electronics on a driver's attention.
Most carmakers also voluntarily reduce or eliminate certain system functionalities until the car is parked, preventing drivers from doing such things as searching for a restaurant while speeding, or entering an address while trying to navigate an intersection.
Laura Heasman, a Public Relations expert at Honda explains "driver distraction is an issue that concerns consumers, safety advocates and government agencies. Honda Canada recognizes that we have a responsibility to remind our customers about the need to interact with the vehicle systems in a manner that minimizes risk to themselves and to other drivers. All disclaimers/warnings related to Navigation and Bluetooth operation while driving are developed on the sole effort of Honda Canada. There are no current government regulations."
photo:Justin Pritchard, Jupiter Images
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Handling a cell phone and driving is dangerous, so many automakers offer Bluetooth connectivity, allowing for voice-commanded phone calls as opposed to thumbing of the keypad in the middle of a lane change.
Hands free calling covers people who talk while driving, but not those who choose to read their tiny cell phone screens and type behind the wheel. I'm guilty of texting and driving too, though I quit cold turkey after nearly parking my car in the back of a transit bus.
Ford's answer is a system called Sync, which synchronizes one's iPod, cellular phone and other wireless gadgets through a central interface. It's controlled through steering-wheel mounted buttons and voice command, and it can even read your incoming text messages to you, so you don't try and read them while blowing a red light.
Sync was developed with help from Fords advanced VIRTTEX lab, which is dedicated to studying the effects of in-car electronics on a driver's attention.
Most carmakers also voluntarily reduce or eliminate certain system functionalities until the car is parked, preventing drivers from doing such things as searching for a restaurant while speeding, or entering an address while trying to navigate an intersection.
Laura Heasman, a Public Relations expert at Honda explains "driver distraction is an issue that concerns consumers, safety advocates and government agencies. Honda Canada recognizes that we have a responsibility to remind our customers about the need to interact with the vehicle systems in a manner that minimizes risk to themselves and to other drivers. All disclaimers/warnings related to Navigation and Bluetooth operation while driving are developed on the sole effort of Honda Canada. There are no current government regulations."
photo:Justin Pritchard, Jupiter Images