NHTSA Urges Cell Phone Manufacturers to Fight Distracted Driving

Every year, thousands of people in America die because of distracted driving. But when laws against texting while driving don’t work, how can the government get motorists to put the phone down? The NHTSA says it’s up to cell phone manufacturers to take the next step.

In 2014, distracted driving killed 3,197 motorists, and injured another 424,000 more nationwide. In 2015, the fatality number jumped to 3,477 – an 8.8% increase. With distraction-related crashes on the rise, the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been seeking new ways to kick cell-phone distraction to the curb.

Studies show, the average text message takes 23 seconds to type and send. That’s nearly half a minute of distracted driving. At highway speeds, that’s like traveling over 5 football fields with your eyes closed.
Texting while driving has been criminalized in most states, including Michigan, as has using a cell phone while driving except with a hands-free device. But phone calls, text messages, and GPS features are still pulling drivers’ attention off the road and onto their mobile devices.

So in phase two of the “Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for Portable and Aftermarket Devices”, the agency has turned to cell phone manufacturers. The NHTSA has published voluntary guidelines for how future cell phones can minimize the time a driver’s attention is diverted from the road. The guidelines recommend that new smartphone models pair with cars’ on-board computers, which will put information more conveniently accessible with just a glance. They also recommend implementing “Drive Mode.”

Like Airplane Mode disables cellular function on an airline, Drive Mode would restrict the operations of your cell phone while you are behind the wheel. It would also cause the phone to switch to a simplified user interface to make it easier to use with just a glance.

The NHTSA’s safety features are voluntary, and designed to minimize distracted driving without interfering with the everyday function of your phone. But by shifting some responsibility to cell-phone manufacturers, the NHTSA hopes to fight distracted driving and keep more U.S. motorists safe.

Dani K. Liblang is a personal injury attorney at The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., in Birmingham, Michigan. She helps the victims of distracted driving accidents get relief from insurance companies and at-fault drivers. If you have been seriously injured by a distracted driver, contact The Liblang Law Firm, P.C., today to schedule a free consultation.