By Keith C. Milne
Hey Apple! . . . Okay Google, here is a suggestion to prevent texting while driving . . .
Why them? Quite simply they collectively control 99% of the software used by everyone, everywhere when they use the smartphone of their choice.
I see people every single day texting while driving. It is not just annoying and distracting, it is dangerous and life-threatening to others. I remember wincing hearing my boss say that we should all be able to carry guns and when we see someone who is clearly texting or engaging in distracted driving with a dumb-ass phone, we should be able to just take out our weapons and shoot them. “After all, they’re threatening my life! Why shouldn’t I be able to defend myself against that?!” he added. A short while later, after thinking about it, I saw his point, but of course would never actually do something like that or advocate in favor of any policy promoting such nonsense. Ultimately, for me though, it highlights the anger felt by those who play by the rules and constantly witness people not doing the same. Those actions, lawless actions, always become law abiding peoples’ problems. In this case, the law abider’s have to move in some way, slow down, speed up, change lanes, and otherwise get out of the way of the idiot who just cannot stop fiddling with their little idiot box even long enough to get to work or home or anywhere. And, you know what I’m talking about. Well, at least you surely do if you’re a driver pretty much anywhere these days. This phenomenon takes place in varying degrees no matter where you are, with the usual scenario of the idiots and jerks of the world doing what they can at every turn to make life harder for the rest of us.
So, all that said. Here might be a way to thwart this ultimate form of selfishness once and for all, but it is going to require collaboration between you two: Apple and Google, and also auto makers and state and federal governments. But please remember: this is going to be a global public safety initiative and the collaborative efforts will be shared and incorporated into future versions of autos, as well as new smart phones.
Similar to rental car company requiring a credit card, this will require that anyone who drives must either have a smart phone associated with them or if they fib and say no when they actually do have one, they will now have to drive while mobile network blocking is enabled by default in all new automobiles. The RMV/DMV will require all new drivers licenses to certify if they have a smart phone or not. If they do, they will have to download an app from the RMV/DMV. If they do not, they will have to certify that bit of information as well.
Next, every car will have a driver’s camera aimed at the driver when the vehicle is occupied by a driver. No other cameras for the inside are really necessary. When someone occupies the driver’s side, the camera activates either when that person pushes the start button or a pressure sensor under the seat or a motion sensor in the dash. A request for the person’s drivers license number, unique to only that individual is requested on the dash screen. Once the code is input, the camera compares the image it sees of the driver to the image it has on file and confirms the owner’s identity. Once the individual’s identity is confirmed, the vehicle starts, while simultaneously disabling that individual’s smartphone via the app ONCE THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE. If the individual wishes to use their phone, they must pull over and come to a complete stop before their phone is re-enabled. Bluetooth between the individual’s device and the car sensors and ignition system demand this match up, which is all tied together with GPS for vehicle movement identification. Someone without a device will have nothing to worry about as that information will be on file with the RMV/DMV and be associated with their personal drivers license numbers. When they get into the drivers seat, they will input their number and as long as the camera aimed at the driver never sees any behavior or actions that involve use of a device, then the car will continue to be driveable. If the camera sees any driver use a phone in any manner, the car is disabled.
Drivers will also be able to opt-in to more privacy intrusive, but convenient options as well, such as enabling the facial recognition on their device or the cars camera to work as the login when starting a vehicle, even a rental. A car’s system scans for devices, and finds them. The driver’s device is singled out via the camera looking at them. That image gets compared to a facial recognition image on file with RMV/DMV and then that person’s smart phone “code” is then automatically used to disable their phone once moving. The movement is known by utilization of GPS on the vehicle, which also integrates into this information stream.
All of this capability already exists in big ways and has even been polished to a pretty shiny state. Bottom line: you will no longer be able to fiddle with your device while driving.
Trust me, it’s not that big of a deal. I did it for the first 30 years that I drove. We didn’t have “smart phones” then. We didn’t have cell phones back then either. Driving while actually looking around at other drivers, the road, the sky, the countryside, or the skyline is pretty nice. As is actually listening to the music that might be playing for a change. Better yet, commuting with a friend and having a real conversation where both people are stealing glances at one another for occasional emphasis, taking turns talking, listening, and being listened to for a change. No one is looking at a screen while you’re talking to them.
Oh, that and actually looking at the road you’re driving 85 mph on for a change. No real room for error there, you know? 🙂
PLEASE
