Seven advanced car technologies the government wants now
DON"T TEXT ME lets iPhone users create a list of the people who constantly text you, store it and, with the push of one button it notifies them not to text you while you are driving. When you have arrived at your destination, you press another button which tells your contacts you are available and can receive text messages.
Other features can also be customized such as: don't text me I'm working; at a meeting; in class; at dinner; or, whatever suits any given situation, the company stated.
Of course you could just shut off the phone but what fun is that?
Research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA).
Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.
The US Department of Transportation recently said its wants a federal rule that aims to specifically prohibit texting by interstate commercial truck and bus drivers. The proposed rule would make permanent an interim ban announced in January 2010 that applied existing safety rules to the texting issue.
Commercial drivers, including those required to have "commercial driver's licenses," could face fines or operating disqualification if convicted of texting while driving, the department stated. This rule would not affect talking on cell phones, or using devices like GPS or in-cab fleet management systems, the department is looking onto regulations about those activities as well.
President Obama has already signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment.
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