Guidelines eyed for car electronic gadgets
Ford, working with National Public Radio, has enabled the NPR news app to be voice-activated through the SYNC in-car connectivity system. (Jan. 9, 2011) Credit: Handout
Auto dashboards are becoming an arcade of text messages, GPS images, phone calls and Web surfing, the government says, and it's asking carmakers to curb those features when cars are moving.
Manufacturers have been loading up higher-end vehicles with an array of built-in gadgets to tempt car buyers who want to multitask behind the wheel in today's increasingly connected society. But the technological advances have raised concerns that drivers are being diverted from the road.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Thursday proposed voluntary guidelines for manufacturers, including a recommendation that they design dashboards so that distracting devices are automatically disabled unless the vehicle is stopped and the transmission is in park.
"We recognize that vehicle manufacturers want to build vehicles that include the tools and conveniences expected by . . . drivers," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "The guidelines we're proposing would offer real-world guidance to automakers to help them develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want without disrupting a driver's attention or sacrificing safety."
Gloria Bergquist, of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said carmakers will review the guidelines, which have a 60-day comment period. She noted the industry has had its own voluntary guidelines since 2002. "Drivers are going to have conversations, listen to music and read maps while driving, and automakers are helping them do this more safely with integrated hands-free systems that help drivers focus on the road," Bergquist said.
The guidelines, which are directed at passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, would exempt safety devices such as electronic-warning systems that alert drivers to potential collisions or lane changes. GPS and other navigation devices that offer directions would also be allowed while driving, but the NHTSA is asking that the systems be designed so that drivers can't manually enter a destination unless the car is in park.
The alternative is for drivers to go back to studying maps while they drive, which is even less safe, Strickland said.
