The best invention of 2014

[sirearl]

Should be fitted by law,using a phone when driving is mega dangerous.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29408959

 

[MikeJ]

How does it know if I'm driving or a passenger? My wife often drives my car.

 

[Paul Brooke]

I guess if you are the passenger then you wouldn't activate it

 

[MikeJ]

Ah. What's to stop me not activating it if I'm the driver?

 

[Paul Brooke]

Nothing. But from what I heard this is not compulsory but an opt in. Maybe I heard wrong

 

[DazRave]

Granted, seeing people drive while chatting away on the phone annoys the hell out of me.

But this is far from the solution and doesn't look like it actually works properly. (since you can just turn it off etc)

 

[Nuno]

It is a problem which needs a solution. It is now more dangerous (in terms of casualties) than drink driving.
Personally I think penalties will be the only answer, similar in severity to DD: an automatic one year ban for the first offence. That way people won't try and hack new bits of kit so they can still drive dangerously.
Virtually all phones have voicemail: use it people! Anyway, nothing is that urgent.

 

[sirearl]

It would not be hard for manufacturers to make a car that would not start unless the gizmo was activated.

 

[MikeJ]

What if a passenger wants to use a phone? Does it jam all phones in the car? Will it jam people walking next to the car?

This appears to be a stupid solution to a serious problem.

 

[DazRave]

From the looks of it.. the technology lies on the networks side of things. They seem to be plugging a device into the OBD connection under most car's steering wheel.

I've got an bluetooth OBD device in my own car in the same socket. I use it to automaticly connect my phone to the car which then reads the car's ECU. I presume they have simply modified one of these bluetooth plugs, and if it senses your phone it then tells the network you are driving (probably via your own phone). The network is then withholding your text messages.... but it's NOT withholding your calls apparently.

 

[Excel Expert]

Great intent but too many holes for it to be workable in real life.

Short of making it mandatory for cars to jam all phones inside the car, there will always be people that find ways around the system.

I live 2 doors away from a school entrance and opposite a pub and I see far more dangerous driving as a result of people on the phone rather than on the p**s. The strange thing is a lot of it is by parents picking up kids from the school

 

[titanium]

This is just silly. If you think using a phone while driving is dangerous (which of course it is), just don't do it. Why would you opt in and buy this? If it was forced on you, (and you were a lunatic) what would stop you using someone else's phone or a second phone on a different network? I often answer my husband's phone if he is driving and I'm the passenger. Would I be prevented? Can't believe this even got off the ground.

 

[Excel Expert]

I think it will succeed to a certain level and make the owners some cash, but not because it works. The car and phone manufacturers need something that shows that they are doing something about phoning and driving - they are not that fussed about how effective it is as long as they are seen to be doing something. This would fit the bill

 

[sirearl]

What if a passenger wants to use a phone? Does it jam all phones in the car? Will it jam people walking next to the car?

This appears to be a stupid solution to a serious problem.

You would be able to use the phone provided the engine was not running..

best solution is 1k fine and an automatic ban,IMHO

 

[MikeJ]

So it's not the best invention of the year?

 

[Nuno]

So it's not the best invention of the year?

No, the best is not dying of old age because an American Japanese doctor shoves things up your bum to stop you oxidising. (See Swisaw: Medical wisdom of.)

 

[MikeJ]

How's putting something up my bum going to stop me oxidising? If anyone shoved something up there, I'm pretty sure I'd have a sharp intake of breath.

 

[Nuno]

How's putting something up my bum going to stop me oxidising? If anyone shoved something up there, I'm pretty sure I'd have a sharp intake of breath.

Because (and I read Swisaw's words of wisdom rather fast) they will find free radicals up there and send in a Harrier. The afterburners would stop all oxidisation. A doctor writes.

 

[MikeJ]

You smooth talker! Ok, but I expect dinner first.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

best solution is 1k fine and an automatic ban,IMHO

A one year ban from owning a mobile phone would hurt a lot of people more than a driving ban.

 

[Nuno]

A one year ban from owning a mobile phone would hurt a lot of people more than a driving ban.

Bit difficult to enforce really. How would you enforce non-ownership?

 

[sirearl]

Seems other issues with people not wearing seat belts.

idiocracy is well and truely established in Britain.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-29416372

 

[Nuno]

Seat Belts. Best invention of 1914. According to an expert...

 

[MikeJ]

Bit difficult to enforce really. How would you enforce non-ownership?

Hong Kong confiscates the phone. You keep the simcard, but lose the device for three months.

 

[Nuno]

Unlocked phones are cheap as chips in HK. £25, wack your sim in, download contacts and data from cloud and away you go. Rinse and repeat every three months with a new phone.
Still puzzled.

 

[MikeJ]

Actually it was Singapore, not HK. I guess that still holds, but you'd lose your brand new shiny Iphone for a few months. You have a while to hand it in, so there's time to sort out a replacement.

I wonder if there's a rental service out there, that rents out the latest models for 3 months at a time?