DoT Proposed Guidelines - Distracted Driving

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DoT Proposed Guidelines - Distracted Driving

Postby JSWillis » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:11 pm

DoT Guidelines would require manufacturers to ensure GPS systems cease operation if vehicle is moving:

Here is the press release:

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2012/nhtsa0212.html

Here is the notice:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/rulema ... 162012.pdf

Not sure of the effective impact to the motorcycling community. Note this is for future production (I think) and not retroactive (I think). I have not read through it all but wanted to get the word out in case members want to send comments.

Steve
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Re: DoT Proposed Guidelines - Distracted Driving

Postby Unity » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:14 pm

Well, that would be useful -- a GPS that doesn't tell you when to turn. #-o

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Re: DoT Proposed Guidelines - Distracted Driving

Postby stevebmw » Thu Feb 16, 2012 3:47 pm

Unity wrote:Well, that would be useful -- a GPS that doesn't tell you when to turn. #-o

--John


If that were true, it would be pretty dumb. Fortunately, that's not the case. From the press release:

The proposed Phase I distraction guidelines include recommendations to:

Reduce complexity and task length required by the device;
Limit device operation to one hand only (leaving the other hand to remain on the steering wheel to control the vehicle);
Limit individual off-road glances required for device operation to no more than two seconds in duration;
Limit unnecessary visual information in the driver’s field of view;
Limit the amount of manual inputs required for device operation.

The proposed guidelines would also recommend the disabling of the following operations by in-vehicle electronic devices while driving, unless the devices are intended for use by passengers and cannot reasonably be accessed or seen by the driver, or unless the vehicle is stopped and the transmission shift lever is in park.

Visual-manual text messaging;
Visual-manual internet browsing;
Visual-manual social media browsing;
Visual-manual navigation system destination entry by address;
Visual-manual 10-digit phone dialing;
Displaying to the driver more than 30 characters of text unrelated to the driving task.


Looks to me like they want to minimize the chances of someone text-messaging, fumbling around with two hands, or staring at a screen for a long period of time. It also looks like this would affect built-in systems only, as opposed to the add-on units most of us use on our bikes. Seems pretty sensible.
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Re: DoT Proposed Guidelines - Distracted Driving

Postby shelion » Thu Feb 16, 2012 11:39 pm

Based on Steve's post about the specific functions, it sounds like they're targeting the cars that have the systems where you can sync every device you own and conduct your entire life while driving. (The Microsoft system in Fords comes to mind.)

Personally, I don't think ANY vehicle needs to have text messaging, email, or internet capability. If the passenger wants to use it, that's what tablet computers are for.

I'd like to see people return to focusing on driving while driving and not making dinner reservations, texting their friends, eating their lunch, or whatever eight million other things people do while driving.
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