Feds Tell Automakers To Turn Off Web Access and Social Media Features

Federal regulators, moving to curb distracted driving, issued final voluntary safety guidelines today that would disable certain in-vehicle functions such as manual texting, Web browsing and video phoning while driving.

Automakers should do more to keep drivers' eyes on the road and hands on the wheel, U.S. auto regulators said as they released the latest guidelines meant to cut down on crashes caused by the use of electronic devices in cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration specifically recommended disabling several operations unless a vehicle is stopped and in park:

• Manual text entry for the purposes of text messaging and internet browsing;

• Video-based entertainment and communications such as video phoning or video conferencing; and

• Displaying certain types of text, including text messages, Web pages, and social-media content.

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vdiv - 4/23/2013 4:35:01 PM

+2 Boost

Love the picture, hate the idea!

Would I be allowed to hum to myself or sing along with the radio, talk to my passengers, yell at the kids in the back, look at the rearview mirror 2-seconds longer than legislated, or even take a breath, for crying out loud?

Oh, no crying either? Damn it, the commies have won!

nguyenvuminh - 4/23/2013 5:14:31 PM

+2 Boost

I've caught myself straying from my lanes even for a slightest glance at my phone so I can't imagine how many others are doing the same.

trmckin - 4/23/2013 5:25:15 PM

+1 Boost

Wouldn't it be easier to have the functionality but have much of it disabled when the vehicle is in motion?

ParadoX - 4/23/2013 6:21:32 PM

+1 Boost

I have to agree with the Feds here. I don't want to share the roads with people who are on browsing the internet or texting.

quizz - 4/24/2013 12:54:53 PM

+1 Boost

I don't see how the vehicle can filter which phone functions are on or off, short of a near field jamming function to cancel out internet altogether.

trmckin - 4/24/2013 4:51:47 PM

+2 Boost

I don't think the article is talking about cell phones. It's talking about all the new features in new cars. Take a look at what is offered in MyFordTouch or any other app intensive media center in vehicles these days. You can get navigation, weather, sports, news, text, twitter, facebook, etc... all displayed on your dash screen where a simple radio and AC controls used to be. They can be just as distracting as a phone if not more because people are fooled into thinking it could possibly be safe to operate while moving since it's a vehicle feature. The same fools that probably think it's safe to type on a phone while driving but that's a whole different discussion. If the feature is built into the car, it's functions can be shut off according to the vehicle's gear. It's already available for DVD systems that play on nav screen equipped vehicles.

ParadoX - 4/24/2013 11:24:28 PM

+1 Boost

Anybody else miss the days when cars only had radios and an ashtray?