Re:Australia uses new technology to catch drivers on phones
by angry_octet on Monday September 23, 2019 @08:43PM
(#21055358)
You are correct, it is designed to catch moving traffic, but it would also catch someone going underneath in a stationary traffic jam.
Actually studies have shown that people on (hands free) phone calls are also very distracted from the task of driving, driving slower than the traffic, around corners etc. [Haque et el at QUT. A small study in a simulator, but it certainly matches anecdotal observation... https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00014... ]
Just tuning the radio or even listening to the radio can increase response times. Unsurprisingly, having children in the car can also significantly increase risk. [MUARC] Remember that next time you see a Baby On Board sign.
Re:Australia uses new technology to catch drivers on phones
by brokenmachine on Monday September 23, 2019 @11:36PM
(#21056257)
>in any case, continuing improvements in voice control will go a long way toward reducing distracted driving via mobile devices.
It'd have to be a lot of continuing improvements because at the moment, voice control is an absolute shitshow and IMO way more distracting than pushing predictable buttons.
apparently some cameras are fixed and some are mobile, but presumably they're checking cars that are both moving and stationary (if it so happens to be in view of the camera when/where it stops).
distracted driving is a real problem, and phones are a large part of that problem. genuine efforts at curbing distracted driving are welcome, as long as we don't have to trade away all our privacy in the process. i'm generally against camera surveillance for that reason.
in any case, continuing improvements in voice control will go a long way toward reducing distracted driving via mobile devices.