Archive for the ‘distracted driving’ Category

Apart from her music, we don't have anything against Taylor Swift. In fact, we felt pretty bad about that whole VMA thing with Kanye and Beyonce and the Henny and the internet meme that just wouldn't die. However, after seeing Taylor on Saturday Night Live last weekend, we're beginning to wonder if she shouldn't be interrupted more often. Case in point: this video, in which her teenage character goes on a tirade about her parents' terrible driving habits. Thankfully, Kristen Wiig was on-hand to save the day. [Vimeo via MP]

Back in the 18th century, British philosopher Jeremy Bentham came up with a nifty way to keep prisoners in line: as long as the incarcerated thought they were being watched, they behaved, even if they couldn't see the guards. The same "big brother" philosophy has been used ad nauseam since then, even in automobiles. Its newest iteration comes via GreenRoad's in-vehicle data recorder, which takes notes on unsafe driving habits like quick stops and sharp turns and records them for later review.

GreenRoad's difference, however, is that it also grades drivers in real time with red, yellow, and green lights. And the technology is...

The dangers of distracted driving are top of mind these days, what with recent studies on the risks, a Department of Transportation summit meeting, and even automakers speaking out against it.

A Congressional bill would cut highway funding to states that do not ban using handheld devices behind the wheel, as 17 already have. Ford now tout hands-free calling as a safety feature, and is rapidly spreading the Sync system that includes it throughout its range of vehicles.

Voice location moves

Now a Stanford University researcher has proposed a way to get drivers engaged in hands-free conversations to pay more attention when needed: Alter the...