NTSB Worries Car Tech Innovations Compromise Safety
A battle appears to be brewing between automakers increasingly focused on bringing entertainment and information technologies into automobiles and regulators who think these technologies pose a danger to motorists.
Amid a distracted driving forum being held in Washington this week, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board released a statement criticizing producers of mobile technologies intent on installing in-car information technology into vehicles. The NTSB believes that such companies place more importance on what will sell than on what’s safe.
The statement comes on the heels of Intel Corporation announcing an expansion of their in-car infotainment product line designed to keep drivers more connected. Such an initiative was nearly inevitable given the ever-increasing prevalence of smart phones and mobile devices, but many think that such connectedness comes at a cost.
Some people argue that the rate of technological expansion is greater than the rate at which regulators can maintain safety parameters that keep up with that new tech. With distracted driving accidents more commonplace than ever, many persons have begun to question our own ability to multitask, especially while driving. Lawmakers must struggle to come up with answers for these incredibly difficult questions.
As an Oakland personal injury lawyer, I’ll be paying attention to the latest developments in vehicle technology mandates. But no matter the law, I hope as an Oakland car accident attorney that all drivers pay attention to the road and not to a Facebook news feed on their dashboard.
