Audible safety warnings delivered via a driver’s mobile...

Audible safety warnings delivered via a driver’s mobile device would “enact a more widespread and effective behavioral approach initiative” than is currently under consideration in voluntary guidelines for technology meant to allow drivers safe and limited use of mobile devices while a vehicle is in motion, Vesstech Co-Founder Marty Olson said in comments filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://1.usa.gov/1jb1S4I). NHTSA had been collecting recommendations on best practices for its voluntary guidelines. Comments were due at midnight Monday. NHTSA in part wants to recommend targeted media messaging and legislation to modify driver behavior (CD March 13 p11). Audible verbal safety warnings are now possible on cellphones, while similar warnings are possible on other mobile devices through additional technology, Olson said. Verbal warnings played “at the start of the first drive of the day, or other timely moments, will provide a contextual warning to encourage the driver’s attention to the road and the driving task,” he said. The safety warnings should be between five and 10 seconds long and should “use the power of the human voice to convey a sense of urgency related to the potential perils,” Olson said. Vesstech recommends that NHTSA include verbal warnings in its recommendations and that automobile manufacturers and their device partners should immediately begin implementing warnings in their systems. Life Apps Co-Founder Ted Chen told NHTSA it should encourage the use of background apps that would “simply wake up and deter distraction though the use of lock screens and other technology available today.” NHTSA should also create a transition program that would “bridge the gap” between current driver use of mobile devices and desired behavior by encouraging use of these background apps by requiring their installation when a driver renews a driver’s license or car insurance, Chen said (http://1.usa.gov/1omK60h).