I asked, definitely rhetorically and somewhat facetiously, as it were, “Will it ultimately take further technological advancements — autopilot-type technology? — to combat the distraction problem, minus the complete annihilation of phones?”
Well, this week came news that researchers in India’s Anna University of Technology in Chennai have developed a new RFID-based technology aimed at commercial truckers they’re calling the “Cellphone Accident Preventer,” or CAP, according to the Inside Line website. To wit:
It’s a low-cost system that jams the mobile signal. The system only impacts the driver’s phone because an antenna is placed above the driver seat, and because the jammer signal has such a low range, passenger phones remain usable.
“C.A.P. has a bit of a Big Brother tattletale aspect to it, too.,” the story goes on to note. No kidding: “An embedded transmitter also alerts police when the driver uses a phone, so his or her infraction could result in a ticket.”
Like I said, they had heavy-truck drivers in mind in developing it, but I can see an unfortunate future for such technology in all vehicles, given the profusion of stoplight/toolbooth/traffic cameras handing out automatic tickets. Good news for the problem of distracted four wheelers? Other thoughts? (One may recall owner-operator Phil Madsen’s vision of ticket-writing drones here.)
And here’s another question: At this point, how much do you use your phone while driving, whether holding it in your hand or not? Tell me in the poll below:
