WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2008
Device Aims To Stop Calls While Driving
CBS Evening News: Using A Cell Phone While Driving Ups Accident Chance By Four Times
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Play CBS Video Video Dialing And Driving Don't Mix A new program, "Drive-Assist," has been created to disable a cell phone if it detects driving motion, preventing people from chatting on the phone while driving. Daniel Sieberg has more.
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Video DriveAssist To Halt Car Calls The number of accidents by drivers using cellphones prompts a hi-tech solution, reports Daniel Sieberg. Two parents behind the DriveAssist device, who lost their own son, talk to Maggie Rodriguez.
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New research shows whether or not drivers are actually holding the phone, they are just as distracted by the conversation itself – sometimes as impaired as if they were legally drunk. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
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Interactive Motor Away Things to know before hitting the road.
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Section Tech News All about the digital world, from computers and gadgets to industry news and hot tech trends.
"He was always happy, always smiling - I never remember Joe being angry with anybody," Teater said. "He loved life."
Four years ago, 12-year-old Joe was killed by a woman distracted while on her cell phone. She ran a red light and plowed into the Teaters' car.
"You never get over it," he said.
His wife, Judy, survived.
Teater closed his automotive consulting business to take up a cause - warning others, CBS News science and technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg reports.
"I don't think people ought to use a cell phone when they're driving, period," he said.
Now, Teater wants drivers to go the extra mile - with some new technology for cell phones and texting devices.
"The software periodically checks using various sensors that are already in the phone, like GPS and wi-fi," he explains.
He's joined a company that created "Drive Assist," software downloaded to a hand-held device. If GPS detects driving motion, a signal is sent to the wireless provider, which disables outgoing calls, except to 9-1-1, and diverts incoming calls to a custom voice mail.
"The person you called appears to be driving," it says.
Maybe you think going "hands-free" is safe enough. Think again. New research shows whether or not drivers are actually holding the phone, they are just as distracted by the conversation itself - sometimes as impaired as if they were legally drunk.
"I just wish they knew what I knew," Teater said.
Drive Assist, available early next year, will cost between $10 and $20 a month. Nationwide Insurance has already announced people who use it will save money on their policies.
Teater is convinced it will save much more than that.
Nothing will ever make up for the loss of Joe. But it'll add some meaning to it. And that is helpful.
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More From CBS Evening News
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
Today with cruise control, automatic transmissions and such, cars are more dangerous because drivers no longer treat driving as a responsibility. They think it is their right. Just tell someone their driver''s license owned by the state is given as a privilege and listen to the disagreement. But it''s true, your license belongs to your state for use as a PRIVILEGE! No one has the right to drive.
Yet repeatedly there are collisions caused solely by driver irresponsibility. We are late so we don''t stop for the red light, we weave through traffic thinking we move quicker, we roll through stop signs, drive on the shoulder, cut people off and now we do it while talking, texting, using a GPS, listening to the DVD in the player and even faxing. Added to that are the morons who apply make up, eat, drink and such all while driving. Then they wonder why vehicles cost so much and their insurance is so high. It''s because stupidheads are killing and injuring people because they with no regard for anyone else.
When driving you just drive. No one is so important they have to be on the phone at all while driving!
this morning you airt a fam, whos son died becoure of some one on the cellphone. iam sorry for therr lost.
but here is my think, if i shouldnt talk on the phone while driving then that means i should not talk with my passengers in the truck eather. i can understand the texting part nd why not to do it, even knowing i do that also.
but if we cant talk to oure passengers we might as well not have any one with us in oure cars.
also, what about the truckers and theme on the cb. there are talking on there all the time and on the phone @ the same time. i should know, iam out on the highways all the time. i see theme and hear theme , plus i drive truck my self...
but anyways, my point is, does it mean we cant talk to oure passengers who ever the may be.
just woundering.
mickey
I don''t know if Mr. Smith writes his own material, I doubt it, but that comment is so typical of American society today. The cell phone is an inanimate object and can do NOTHING on its own. The person using the phone caused the accident. Blaming phones for vehicle accidents, or blaming guns for crime, or blaming a knife for the cut you receive in the kitchen are equally wrong. Inanimate objects are just that, objects that can do nothing without a human being taking an action and being responsible for the results of the action.
Yes, I used the "R" word. People having to step up and accept responsibility for their actions. We have to begin, again, to hold people responsible for their actions. Mankind used to know this; it''s time we got back to that.
I don''t know if Mr. Smith writes his own material, I doubt it, but that comment is so typical of American society today. The cell phone is an inanimate object and can do NOTHING on its own. The person using the phone caused the accident. Blaming phones for vehicle accidents, or blaming guns for crime, or blaming a knife for the cut you receive in the kitchen are equally wrong. Inanimate objects are just that, objects that can do nothing without a human being taking an action and being responsible for the results of the action.
Yes, I used the "R" word. People having to step up and accept responsibility for their actions. We have to begin, again, to hold people responsible for their actions. Mankind used to know this; it''s time we got back to that.
I don''t know if Mr. Smith writes his own material, I doubt it, but that comment is so typical of American society today. The cell phone is an inanimate object and can do NOTHING on its own. The person using the phone caused the accident. Blaming phones for vehicle accidents, or blaming guns for crime, or blaming a knife for the cut you receive in the kitchen are equally wrong. Inanimate objects are just that, objects that can do nothing without a human being taking an action and being responsible for the results of the action.
Yes, I used the "R" word. People having to step up and accept responsibility for their actions. We have to begin, again, to hold people responsible for their actions. Mankind used to know this; it''s time we got back to that.
The only phone I have is provided by my employer.
- by playersnoopy October 24, 2008 1:07 AM EDT
- I don''t usually comment on news stories but this kind of stuff annoy me to no end. First off I agree driving while on the phone is dangerous and I don''t think anyone should do it. But Drive Assist is the dumbest thing I''ve ever heard of. Turn off your phone or don''t answer it while driving and it goes to voicemail! Insurance companies giving you a break for paying for a service as dumb as this for $10-$20/mo sounds like they''ll be the ones making money from Drive Assist I bet.
- Reply to this comment
See all 14 CommentsBut this isn''t why I''m upset, let''s face it, it''s not just having a phone in your hands that''s the problem it''s the distraction from talking on the phone with or w/o a headset. So how is it any less dangerous than say a parent trying to tend to a crying baby in the back while driving. A couple fighting on a long drive. A person singing to the radio. Someone eating while driving and spilling something and looking away from the road. They are equally like to cause a similar accident scenarios but we don''t have idiots that think they know what''s better for the rest of us and try to pass bills or implement silly stuff to prevent it. What''s next stop people from driving during emotional distress?
People just need to be more responsible and guess what if they''re not responsible enough, what makes you think they''ll pay $120-$240/yr for this service.