US asks automakers to make dashboards less distracting
"We recognize that vehicle manufacturers want to build vehicles that include the tools and conveniences expected by today's American drivers," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "The guidelines we're proposing would offer real-world guidance to automakers to help them develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want without disrupting a driver's attention or sacrificing safety."
Gloria Bergquist, vice president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said carmakers will review the guidelines, which have a 60-day comment period. She noted that the industry has had its own voluntary guidelines since 2002.
"Drivers are going to have conversations, listen to music and read maps while driving, and automakers are helping them do this more safely with integrated hands-free systems that help drivers focus on the road," Bergquist said.
The guidelines, which are directed at passenger cars and sport utility vehicles, would exempt safety devices such electronic-warning systems that alert drivers to potential collisions or lane changes. GPS and other navigation devices that provide directions would also be permitted while driving, but the safety administration is asking that the systems be designed so that drivers can't manually enter a destination unless the car is in park.
Nevada Waves in Driverless Cars
Self-driving cars can shift up a gear now. On Thursday, Nevada became the first state to approve self-driving automobiles, which is the kick Google needed to permissibly allow them to move forward in releasing their impacting invention.
For those who can’t handle the high activity level of driving in cruise control or having a GPS navigation system guide them to their next destination, Google has invented an autonomous auto. They made the shocking announcement in 2010, confirming that the wave of tomorrow was here, and that their new technology would allow cars to drive themselves off road and on city streets. The main blessing of self-driving automobiles is that Google expects them to maximally cut auto accident deaths in half. The company explains robot drivers are less inclined to make errors than human ones, and that the cars will use space on the roads much more efficiently, keeping cars closer together at safer speeds.
The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles announced that they approved regulations that allow self-driving vehicles to hit the public roads. This comes after the Nevada DMV’s drafting of the rules, which the state ordered to be written last June. The state worked with Google, car companies, professional testers, insurance agencies, and law enforcement officials, and even some in the educational field to create the regulations. Many other states are waiting in the wings to see if they will be able to follow suit.
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