Shrugging off his critics, DOT crusader Ray LaHood reaffirmed his passion for the fight against distracted driving. In a Washington ceremony marking the first anniversary of FocusDriven's founding, the Department of Transportation chief responded to recent public criticisms of his zeal from the former leader of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: "We will not be deterred by false choices about addressing distracted driving on the one hand and alternative critical safety issues on the other," LaHood told his audience. Jeffrey Runge, the former highway safety official, told … [Read more...]
T-Mobile debuts teen driving nanny
January 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
T-Mobile has come to market with what it calls "the “industry’s first carrier-grade service” that puts the brakes on distracted driving by teens. DriveSmart Plus is a full-featured subscription service that can be applied to all lines on a customer's account. Priced at $4.99 a month, the system engages when a vehicle is in motion, sending incoming calls directly to voicemail and temporarily preventing access to text messages. People who call or text the phone user get an auto-response saying he or she is driving. Other upper-tier distracted driving solutions have similar functionality -- … [Read more...]
Multimedia cars on parade at CES
January 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
This year's CES confirmed that automakers are indeed quickening the pace toward making their vehicles hubs of electronic information and entertainment. "Connected vehicle" systems and safe-driving technologies co-existed and co-mingled at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Toyota and Hyundai unveiled new wireless communications and data systems for their vehicles, while GM's popular OnStar service announced it was expanding into other carmakers' vehicles. Ford rolled out its first electric car, with "wireless connected vehicle services" designed by partner Airbiquity. “The … [Read more...]
Heather Hurd Memorial Highway set
January 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A stretch of Florida's U.S. 27 has been named in the memory of distracted driving victim Heather Hurd. The Jan. 5 ceremony, in Polk County, was attended by the parents of Heather, a 26-year-old whose death was caused by a text-messaging truck driver in 2008. Russell Hurd, who has been active in lobbying for distracted driving laws nationwide, urged Florida legislators to pass its version of Heather's Law during 2011. "We will never hear my Heather's magical giggle ever again," the father said at the ceremony. “Everyone here today has a Heather in their life.” Heather's family is from … [Read more...]
3 more states enforcing DD laws
December 30, 2010 by 2 Comments
New year, new distracted driving laws. Three states -- Delaware, Kentucky and Kansas -- saw their distracted driving laws take full effect as 2011 arrived. In Delaware, the law against driving while text messaging or using a handheld cell phone went into effect Jan. 2. Penalties begin immediately: $50 (first offense), then $100 to $200 for subsequent violations. Delaware's distracted driving bans call for primary enforcement, meaning police can stop and cite motorists for violations without needing another reason. Also prohibited for drivers are Internet activities, game playing and use of … [Read more...]
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