It was recently announced that David Strickland is now the new Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Mr. Strickland is well regarded as a proponent for increased funding for various driving safety programs such as drunk driving prevention and seat belt use campaigns. In 2004, Mr. Strickland was named Congressional Staffer Of The Year by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) for his efforts. 
With that level of dedication to safe driving, I am hopeful that Mr. Strickland will join forces with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in the fight against distracted driving. While increased attention has been put on cell phone distracted driving, too little attention has been placed on the dangers of working while driving, specifically working on a laptop while driving.
With the announcement by Ford of wi-fi connectivity in cars (access available when vehicle is stopped, even more laptops will ride along with drivers increasing the chances of distraction. It is important to realize that even when the car is moving and the proposed wi-fi connection is inactive, there are many things people can still use their laptops for, to watch movies, read emails, lookup contacts, etc. Cell phones are definitely distractions to drivers. Laptops used by business professionals while driving to be "more productive" in the car, are equally if not more dangerous.
Unfortunately, company car accidents happen everyday so it is reasonable to assume that people working while driving are distracted in similar ways to cell phone distracted drivers. There are elements of physical distraction and cognitive distraction that must be eliminated. The temptation to focus on technologies instead of the road can become too great. That is where technological solutions must come into play to reduce technological distractions. Similar to programs that limit cell phone usage while a vehicle is in motion, such solutions exist for businesses that restricts laptop usage while a vehicle is in motion as detected by GPS.
ScreenSafe software eliminates distractions while driving by disabling the laptop monitor if the vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed. Once the vehicle is stopped or safely parked, normal operation is resumed. ScreenSafe allows the focus driven individual to keep their focus on the road where it belongs.
As Mr. Strickland begins his new job and begins to prioritize programs, I sincerely hope that preventing distracted driving is high on his list. And I hope that the focus is widened from cell phones to include laptops and netbooks. It is a very underestimated threat to the driving public.
With that level of dedication to safe driving, I am hopeful that Mr. Strickland will join forces with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in the fight against distracted driving. While increased attention has been put on cell phone distracted driving, too little attention has been placed on the dangers of working while driving, specifically working on a laptop while driving.
With the announcement by Ford of wi-fi connectivity in cars (access available when vehicle is stopped, even more laptops will ride along with drivers increasing the chances of distraction. It is important to realize that even when the car is moving and the proposed wi-fi connection is inactive, there are many things people can still use their laptops for, to watch movies, read emails, lookup contacts, etc. Cell phones are definitely distractions to drivers. Laptops used by business professionals while driving to be "more productive" in the car, are equally if not more dangerous.
Unfortunately, company car accidents happen everyday so it is reasonable to assume that people working while driving are distracted in similar ways to cell phone distracted drivers. There are elements of physical distraction and cognitive distraction that must be eliminated. The temptation to focus on technologies instead of the road can become too great. That is where technological solutions must come into play to reduce technological distractions. Similar to programs that limit cell phone usage while a vehicle is in motion, such solutions exist for businesses that restricts laptop usage while a vehicle is in motion as detected by GPS.
ScreenSafe software eliminates distractions while driving by disabling the laptop monitor if the vehicle is moving above a predetermined speed. Once the vehicle is stopped or safely parked, normal operation is resumed. ScreenSafe allows the focus driven individual to keep their focus on the road where it belongs.
As Mr. Strickland begins his new job and begins to prioritize programs, I sincerely hope that preventing distracted driving is high on his list. And I hope that the focus is widened from cell phones to include laptops and netbooks. It is a very underestimated threat to the driving public.
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