Technology is amazing when it comes to selling us things. We look at something online (or say the word out loud in our homes) and boom we are flooded with ads and reminders. We make a political donation and we get flooded with ads and texts from candidates not just in our area, but across the country.
We check into a hotel and get greeted with personal things about yourself that at times might even be a bit creepy. Remote employees are having keystrokes monitored. Students taking online tests are subjected to being accused of cheating if their eyes move left or right from the screen during that test. Missiles can be pin-pointedly fired at and up our butts from hundreds of miles away.
But to me distracted driving is a problem where I think lots of innovation could happen and it hasn’t/doesn’t. And I think the auto industry should be leading the cause. Here’s a few ideas that came to my mind to combat distracted driving……
- What if we had to watch a video of someone texting, driving, crashing, and dying every time we started our vehicle? Do you think it could help.
- What if vehicles sensed you picking up your phone while moving and “yelled” at you to put it down and pay attention. Do you think it could help?
- What if Bluetooth in vehicles required your mobile device to be inserted into a compartment with a lid that when opened sounded an alert or a safety message? Do you think it could help? What I love about my vehicle is the wireless charger is in a place that really is a bit awkward to insert and remove. Has made me think a few times I went to grab it.
- With the rise of self-driving technology and safety advances what if the vehicle automatically took over if you even touched your phone? Do you think it could help?
Do these ideas sound crazy, extreme or Big Brotherish? Maybe. But let’s face it, distracted driving is getting out of hand. I know every time I see a crash I ask myself who was on their phone. So while these ideas may be extreme, they may be better than being dead or in jail for killing someone else? What if one of those ideas saved your life or the life of a loved one?
What about you? Do you have any ideas you would add to my list? Cuz I think the auto industry should be leading in the fight against distracted driving.