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Motorola and other members of the industry group the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CITA) are arguing that lawmakers will not necessarily make the roads safer by preventing drivers from using mobile phones. But in the US more than 40 states are considering such laws following New York's enactment of its mobile phone ban last November. Since 01 November, New Yorkers have been banned from using handheld mobile phones while driving although they are permitted to use hands-free sets to make calls.
Chuck Eger, director of Motorola's office of driver safety, said Motorola would like to see more research into the issue and more education for drivers instead.
"We agree with the policymakers at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), that it is premature at this point to conclude that legislation that has restrictions will be useful," he said. "We very much endorse legislation that involves education, that involves research into the kinds of distractions that are problems...and we certainly will not oppose thoughtful hands-free legislation."
In Ireland the Automobile Association has also insisted that new legislation to ban mobile phone use is unnecessary, since drivers can be prosecuted under the current Road Traffic Act, and has instead called for better enforcement of these laws.
The issue of driver safety and mobile phone use has been muddied by conflicting research. Last year University of Utah researchers said that using a mobile phone while behind the wheel is likely to be of greater distraction to drivers than in-car conversation, or listening to the radio or audio books. Additionally the research suggested that, statistically, hands-free mobile phones did not improve drivers' concentration.
But research studies quoted by industry groups like CITA have concluded that more research is necessary, and state that distractions like eating, tuning the radio and applying makeup while driving may offer a statistically higher chance of contributing toward an accident.
In the meantime new uses of the mobile phone, including text messaging, have emerged as genuine dangers. Last February a lorry driver in the UK was given five years in jail after being found guilty of hitting and killing a man while sending a text message to his girlfriend.
News of conflicting research and high-profile tragedies like the UK text messaging accident have now inspired industry leaders like Motorola to develop proactive education programs for drivers as well as new technologies.
Motorola has developed an entire distracted-driving curriculum in partnership with AT&T Wireless and the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety in the US. Motorola says the program, called "Who's Driving?", helps drivers recognise and address distracted-driving problems.
Despite the University of Utah research that downplayed the safety enhancements of hands-free sets, Motorola and the industry associations continue to encourage their use.
Motorola has unveiled a new car kit that integrates a mobile phone with the automobile, routing audio through the car's stereo speakers. The company is also introducing a Bluetooth Hands-free Car Kit which enables a wireless connection in the car for a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. The driver can enter the car talking on the phone and the car kit picks up the conversation, allowing the driver to continue talking without plugging in a wire. The kit incorporates voice-recognition technology, which enables drivers to make calls by using voice commands.
More information on mobile phones and driver safety, including CITA's top tips, are at http://www.wow-com.com/consumer/faq/articles.cfm?ID=95.
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