Voice activated dialing or making song requests to your radio while in a moving car may soon become something from the past if new guidelines proposed this year end up passing into law.
In a press release by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed new guidelines concerning driver distraction which may impact the amount of in-car technology auto makers will provide for buyers.
The guidelines have recommendations such as limiting how long a driver can look at a device to operate it, how many menus a device has for a driver to navigate, and limiting the amount of information displayed by the device to the driver.
Another recommendation is that certain vehicle devices cannot be operated by the driver unless the car is stopped, and the gear lever in Park. The restrictions would apply to any device for: visual-manual texting, visual-manual internet browsing, social media browsing, navigation system destination address entry, manually entering a 10 digit phone number, and displaying more than 30 characters of text unrelated to the task of driving.
Future plans are to implement restrictions on portable devices brought into the vehicle such as smart phones, GPS units (non-factory), tablets, and voice activated controls.
The general public and auto makers have 60 days to voice their opinions on the proposed guidelines.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
The press release is below:
U.S. Department of Transportation Proposes 'Distraction' Guidelines for Automakers
Proposed recommendations would encourage manufacturers to develop "less distracting" in-vehicle electronic devices
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced
the first-ever federally proposed guidelines to encourage automobile
manufacturers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic
devices. The proposed voluntary guidelines would apply to
communications, entertainment, information gathering and navigation
devices or functions that are not required to safely operate the
vehicle.
Issued by the Department's National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), the guidelines would establish specific
recommended criteria for electronic devices installed in vehicles at the
time they are manufactured that require visual or manual operation by
drivers. The announcement of the guidelines comes just days after
President Obama's FY 2013 budget request, which includes $330 million
over six years for distracted driving programs that increase awareness
of the issue and encourage stakeholders to take action.
"Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America's
roadways – that's why I've made it a priority to encourage people to
stay focused behind the wheel," said Secretary LaHood. "These guidelines
are a major step forward in identifying real solutions to tackle the
issue of distracted driving for drivers of all ages."
Geared
toward light vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, and other
vehicles rated at not more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight), the
guidelines proposed today are the first in a series of guidance
documents NHTSA plans to issue to address sources of distraction that
require use of the hands and/or diversion of the eyes from the primary
task of driving.
In particular, the Phase I proposed
guidelines released today recommend criteria that manufacturers can use
to ensure the systems or devices they provide in their vehicles are less
likely to distract the driver with tasks not directly relevant to
safely operating the vehicle, or cause undue distraction by engaging the
driver's eyes or hands for more than a very limited duration while
driving. Electronic warning system functions such as forward-collision
or lane departure alerts would not be subject to the proposed
guidelines, since they are intended to warn a driver of a potential
crash and are not considered distracting devices.
"We
recognize that vehicle manufacturers want to build vehicles that include
the tools and conveniences expected by today's American drivers," said
NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "The guidelines we're proposing
would offer real-world guidance to automakers to help them develop
electronic devices that provide features consumers want-without
disrupting a driver's attention or sacrificing safety."
The proposed Phase I distraction guidelines include recommendations to:
Reduce complexity and task length required by the device;
Limit device operation to one hand only (leaving the other hand to remain on the steering wheel to control the vehicle);
Limit individual off-road glances required for device operation to no more than two seconds in duration;
Limit unnecessary visual information in the driver's field of view;
Limit the amount of manual inputs required for device operation.
The proposed guidelines would also recommend the disabling of the
following operations by in-vehicle electronic devices while driving,
unless the devices are intended for use by passengers and cannot
reasonably be accessed or seen by the driver, or unless the vehicle is
stopped and the transmission shift lever is in park.
Visual-manual text messaging;
Visual-manual internet browsing;
Visual-manual social media browsing;
Visual-manual navigation system destination entry by address;
Visual-manual 10-digit phone dialing;
Displaying to the driver more than 30 characters of text unrelated to the driving task.
NHTSA is also considering future, Phase II proposed guidelines that
might address devices or systems that are not built into the vehicle but
are brought into the vehicle and used while driving, including
aftermarket and portable personal electronic devices such as navigation
systems, smart phones, electronic tablets and pads, and other mobile
communications devices. A third set of proposed guidelines (Phase III)
may address voice-activated controls to further minimize distraction in
factory-installed, aftermarket, and portable devices.
The
Phase I guidelines were published in today's Federal Register and
members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on the
proposal for 60 days. Final guidelines will be issued after the agency
reviews and analyzes and responds to public input.
NHTSA will
also hold public hearings on the proposed guidelines to solicit public
comment. The hearings will take place in March and will be held in Los
Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C
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