Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation is today hosting a summit where he will press technology companies on potential solutions to minimize distractions for drivers that are increasingly using smartphones and other devices in vehicles. The summit will consist of three roundtables that kicked off earlier today and representatives from many major tech companies including Apple, Google, Samsung, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and more are scheduled to be in attendance.
For two of the roundtable discussions Apple’s Director of Federal Government Affairs Tim Powerdly participated. One of the talks earlier today was on “The State of Technology” where committee staff discussed solutions currently on the market to prevent distracted driving. Another scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today will be lead by Chairman Rockefeller who will ask the companies to “collaborate and build more robust technological solutions to distracted driving.”
During the discussion earlier today the senate committee questioned the companies on solutions they’ve released so far including various apps designed for smartphones by AT&T, Sprint and others that limit notifications and more when users are driving. Both of those carriers noted they’ve yet to release those features for iOS devices. Apple’s Tim Powerdly spoke briefly about Apple’s Siri Eyes Free mode that is already available in some vehicles and also noted that Apple is working on the previously announced iOS in the Car functionality.
Other tech execs in attendance included Google’s Nick Solaro of Global Android Business Development, Samsung’s Vice President, Communications Policy & Regulatory Affairs John Godfrey, and employees from vehicle manufacturers such as Toyota and General Motors.
A video of the session from earlier today is available here and the third session will be live streamed here.
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Airplane mode.
The only true solution would come from people inside if they learn it: discipline!
exactly my thoughts… No matter what software/hardware measures they take there’ll always be hacks and workarounds that drivers (who ‘think’ they can handle driving and texting/surfing/calling) will apply.
Solution: Responsibility.
I guess that won’t be happening any time soon.
Trying to legislate intelligence is ridiculous. Next, car manufacturers will be forced to include sensors that will detect if the driver is eating while operating the vehicle and will automatically cause the car to pull over. Instead of government interference into technological devices, how about running public service announcements on radio and TV like when I was a kid. Due to those old Smokey the Bear commercials, I know to make sure to put out my camp fire when camping because “only YOU can prevent forest fires”, and to date I’ve never burned down a forest. How about rappin’ Woodchucky running a PSA about how “if you text while you drive, you may not come out alive”? OK, it needs work, but you get the idea. Education, not forced device impediments is a much better idea.
Dear United States Senate,
BLOW IT OUT YOUR EAR. Here’s how to stop distracted driving: insult, demean, mock, deride, and socially ostracize people stupid enough to drive distractedly. Make them pariahs. They have made the wrong decision; mollycoddling them doesn’t solve the problem.
Sincerely,
Anyone intelligent enough to be alive.
Why is this Apple’s problem? And what about the passengers? If there’s a method that disables a phone while going at speed, it would disable all phones. What if the passengers need to use the phone? And why is this Apple’s problem again? Aren’t there already laws that say it’s illegal to text and drive?
Well, another really stupid but typical government approach. It’s much easier to make other think and work, right?! All the same these politicians. People need to be intelligent enough to understand the tremendous risk of distracted driving. And really it doesn’t apply only to texting etc. same with any other kind of distraction, even eating (depending how and what) could be risky. I have seen people reading newspaper while driving…!
Anyways, I agree with Len, education is the best way to improve the situation. But then the government needs to work…yep..not gonna happen!!
we will have self driving cars by the time they found a regulation that could work ;-)
Great! Google’s self-driving cars will have an artificial intelligence unit like Siri that will chide you to stop eating or talking on the phone, or I’ll turn this car around right now!