The auto industry has long been concerned about the dangers posed by the equipment it's now planning to put in vehicles, and more recently has been worried that legislation might risk the implementation of that equipment.
General Motors leads the industry in the application of advanced telematics in its cars and has been aggressive about keeping the visual distractions turned off when the vehicle is moving. So it was no surprise to hear its chairman, Jack Smith, get up in front of the people attending Convergence to announce "SenseAble driving."
Smith described it as "a common-sense program that combines technology, research and education. This effort will identify new ways to improve the technology, while at the same time raise public awareness about the dangers posed by the wide variety of distractions faced by drivers."
The research and technology portions of the program have already begun, Smith said, and the educational components will start this fall with a special pilot effort to reach Michigan drivers. Following a six-month pilot program in Michigan, the program will be rolled out across more states, Smith said, but there are currently no plans to bring it to Canada.
Smith's program is the kind of thing that needs to be done, Green's study suggests, since "relatively little emphasis has been given to the potential risks associated with the overload these systems might pose to drivers, and much greater emphasis is needed."
General Motors leads the industry in the application of advanced telematics in its cars and has been aggressive about keeping the visual distractions turned off when the vehicle is moving. So it was no surprise to hear its chairman, Jack Smith, get up in front of the people attending Convergence to announce "SenseAble driving."
Smith described it as "a common-sense program that combines technology, research and education. This effort will identify new ways to improve the technology, while at the same time raise public awareness about the dangers posed by the wide variety of distractions faced by drivers."
The research and technology portions of the program have already begun, Smith said, and the educational components will start this fall with a special pilot effort to reach Michigan drivers. Following a six-month pilot program in Michigan, the program will be rolled out across more states, Smith said, but there are currently no plans to bring it to Canada.
Smith's program is the kind of thing that needs to be done, Green's study suggests, since "relatively little emphasis has been given to the potential risks associated with the overload these systems might pose to drivers, and much greater emphasis is needed."