Despite the public shame of driving around with a cell phone jammed against your face and the growing number of laws against it, people just can’t stop dialing and driving, it seems. Could the next step be technology that actually disables your cell phone while you’re on the road?
A Canadian outfit called Aegis Mobility proffers this new system, called DriveAssist, which stops calls while your car is in motion. It doesn’t block calls through any sort of electromagnetic shielding or jamming system, it’s actually considerably simpler: When your car is moving, the system simply tells your wireless carrier to hold incoming calls and texts and blocks outgoing messages as well. When you stop, the calls come through normally. The advantage to such a system vs. a crude jammer is that your caller receives a notice that you’re on the road and unable to receive calls, rather than just going to voice mail automatically.
At least one insurance company says it will offer discounts of up to 10 percent for customers who use the program. Save money and maybe save lifes, too?
Photo by Indiana Stan.
CoolProducts on November 11th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I’d hate to get blocked during an emergency.
cassy on November 12th, 2008 at 1:15 am
I think this is a nice idea. There are lots of accident happened when drivers is being distract by the sound of their cellphones while driving.
Jaclyn on November 12th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I think this is a very bad idea and the public will never allow it or at least be in a huge uproar about this!!! what if there is an emergency and your on a two hour long drive…so you wont know that your husband or child are in the hospital for two hour’s? cell phones were invented for a reason, so people can get a hold of you if need be at any time. granted, some people can not drive and talk at the same time…that requires too much multi-tasking for them it seems…but for those of us who can do more then one function at a time…why should we be punished because of the lesser functionable people?