Kim Michael Cullen Automobile Accidents Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Automakers Seem Intent On Creating Distractions For Drivers

Monday, December 21, 2009 by Kim Michael Cullen

The Ford Motor Company recently announced its plan to
transform some of its cars and trucks into wireless internet hot spots. Ford describes that a driver will simply have
to plug in a USB mobile air card which many people now use to receive an
internet signal from their cellular phone providers on their laptop computers. The Ford/Microsoft SYNC software will then
let users inside the vehicle connect to the internet wirelessly.

Unless Ford comes up with a way to prohibit drivers from
accessing this service while they are driving, I think this technological
“advance” sounds very dangerous. If
there is currently a great deal of public concern over drivers who are
distracted by talking on their cellular phones, or texting, or even e-mailing,
then shouldn’t there be outrage over the prospect of drivers surfing the
internet while driving? Can you imagine
trying to ride a bicycle in a designated bike lane on any Central Florida road with
a bunch of drivers reading the news or watching Youtube videos - while driving? Imagine drivers of commercial trucks or
18-wheel tractor trailers being similarly distracted. Today’s drivers are already distracted enough
that they often cause careless or negligent collisions that could easily be
avoided.

Ford announced that this technology will be available by the
2011 model year. Hopefully the smart
people at Ford or Microsoft will figure out a way before then to strictly limit
this kind of internet use to passengers, only.
Visit our website at www.cullen-law.com
to learn more about how distracted drivers can be held responsible for their
carelessness.

Posted at 22:40 PM

Topic: Automobile Accidents