Automakers Meet With DOT To Discuss Reducing Distracted Driving Risks
March 13, 2012
The National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration estimates that 20 percent of all vehicle crashes resulting in injuries and 16 percent of all fatal crashes were attributed to distractions, such as GPS devices or cellphones. These estimates rose six percent over a four year time period.
In an effort to help curb these numbers, four major automakers met with Department of Transportation officials Monday to discuss new technologies that may help prevent drivers from becoming distracted. ABC 7 News reports that executives from BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, and General Motors were all in attendance at the meeting.
The hot topic of discussion at the meeting was new and improved guidelines for in-car devices that would eliminate a driver’s need to type an address into a GPS unit as well as block a driver from browsing the Internet.
Currently, most in-dash devices require an average of 10 glances, each averaging around two seconds, to process the information. Automakers are hoping to reduce that average to six glances.
“We need to take steps to prevent them from doing something that would take their mind, their eyes, and their hands off the task,” said Tom Bologa, a spokesman for BMW of North America.
The Washington DC Car Accident Lawyers with ChasenBoscolo Injury Lawyers would like to remind motorists that texting while driving is illegal within the district and is never worth the fines and risk for potential accidents and injuries.
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