Cell phones and driving: What if....

[speedoflife]

What if this was installed on every phone sold in the U.S.?
This would be very nice with just a very slight upgrade of affecting only the driver, and lacking the ability of "passenger override."
I guess I should get back to dreaming.

[TX_370]

What is this?!? Blocked content...

[vipor]

From their site:

HOW DRIVEASSIST WORKS
The DriveAssist™ software running on the subscriber’s mobile phone automatically determines the driving context of the user. Once it's sure that you're driving the software signals to the Aegis ContextEngine™ that you're in motion. All calls and all text messages outbound are then mediated from the mobile network, except for 911 calls which are automatically accepted.


KEY FEATURES
◦Automatic initiation of service
◦Passenger override capability
◦911 always allowed
◦Priority notification is supported as an option
◦Location requests are optional, when permission is granted by the subscriber
◦Multiple user options are supported via the interactive voice response "personal agent"

INBOUND
◦Inbound caller message is played that the subscriber is driving
◦Inbound caller is routed to voicemail and text messages are stored and forwarded later
◦Inbound calls are captured and mediated
◦Inbound SMS text messages are routed to the mobile network and returned to the user once they stop moving

OUTBOUND
◦Outbound calls and text messages are disallowed

CONTACT LIST
◦Accept list of numbers assures user control over privacy of context information
◦An accepted list of approved callers can breakthrough to deliver an audio message to the user such as a parent wishing to contact their child driver

OPTIONAL
◦Users as passengers can choose to override DriveAssist™ and accept incoming calls and place outbound calls without interruption.

[TX_370]

Hmm... sounds promising, but I dont want something like that routing my calls... I get too many important calls.

[vipor]

I'm not a woman, I don't run into things due to being on the phone.

[theDreamer]

Originally Posted by vipor

I'm not a woman, I don't run into things due to being on the phone.

Also, this a huge big brother item, so it will never come to life (hopefully).
Yes, cell phones all already can be tracked via cell towers but other than a couple (so far), they are only accurate to up to 200 feet. So not sure how exactly they will determine you are driving, if I am running and talking is it going to cut me off?

[vipor]

cell phone triangulation is good enough that I've known someone who got in a wreck and the 911 operator was able to tell pretty much which tree they had run into.

probably like satellites, just limit the non-state/gov users.

[speedoflife]

I'm not sure exactly how this program works, but right now it's primarily used for employers to limit their employees usage on the job/on trips/etc. and by parents and their teenage children. I was just suggesting the potential a piece of software such as this has. I personally think that short of an emergency, you should not be on the phone and driving. If you get an important call, pull over. I don't want you to run head-on into me and paralyze/kill me because your spouse had to tell you what kind of orange juice to get at the store. <end rant>

[bigaudiofanat]

I would LOVE this to be in EVERY SINGLE PHONE. It would save me "a motorcyclist" from people that text and talk on the phones. Let me know when this bill goes to office. HAHA

[theDreamer]

I think a solution for cell phones and driving is soon to be thought of, but currently tech does not give a viable solution for this problem. Everything in place so far are just band-aids, tickets for talking on a phone, bluetooth, etc.

[theDreamer]

Originally Posted by vipor

cell phone triangulation is good enough that I've known someone who got in a wreck and the 911 operator was able to tell pretty much which tree they had run into.

probably like satellites, just limit the non-state/gov users.

For emergency use it is, but for public use it currently only allows for cell phone triangulation. Unless you have a GPS equipped phone and use it you will get a large circle.

[dad]

I never use the cell phone when driving, (except911) period! If I get an in-coming call, I'll return the call when I park!

[MightyBobo]

Originally Posted by vipor

cell phone triangulation is good enough that I've known someone who got in a wreck and the 911 operator was able to tell pretty much which tree they had run into.

probably like satellites, just limit the non-state/gov users.

Besides, that's dependent on there actually being at minimum, 3 cell towers within range. 2 people outside of Omaha, NE died in the middle of a winter due to their car dying during a bad snow storm, and they tried to walk. They even called 911, but couldn't tell their location. Ended up freezing to death, in the end, of course.

Granted, they were high as a kite at the time, but none the less, it raised eyebrows and made people in the area realize that they couldn't find them due to sparse cell towers.