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Abitconfusde t1_ixzsgai wrote

Reply to comment by MrPterodactyl in The Exceptionally American Problem of Rising Roadway Deaths (includes a focus on pedestrian and cyclist deaths in DC) by woulditkillyoutolift

That's actually a really interesting idea -- make it more demanding to drive.

Even make it more demanding than manual transmissions. Get rid of power steering, too. Tesla makes sure that people keep their hands on the wheel at least every so often... decrease that to zero.

Most phones can detect when they are travelling over 5 mph. Mandate that they stop working at 10 mph.

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vwcx t1_ixzwqtf wrote

That's the thinking with some of the new pedestrian street architecture, especially narrowing. It makes the corridor a bit more challenging to drive, the idea being that drivers won't feel they can look down to scroll.

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WontStopAtSigns t1_iy03ykk wrote

I rented a Chrysler last month that basically forced the driver to interact with the touch screen while driving. Can't remember what it was, but I was shocked.

Edit: I remember now.. the seat coolers are buried in a menus and default on.

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MrPterodactyl t1_iy05nmp wrote

Yes, we need to also mandate that certain functions be physical buttons on cars. Touch screen menus are ultra distracting.

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Quelcris_Falconer13 t1_iy2rnki wrote

100% on board for this! I specifically choose my car because the important buttons are manual: the volume, AC temp and fan speed. The other model had them buried under menus which was confusing and took me too long to stare at to figure out while behind the wheel

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FirmLibrary4893 t1_iy0cbtc wrote

> Mandate that they stop working at 10 mph.

uhhh kinda need my gps to know where I'm going

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Abitconfusde t1_iy1jzke wrote

Do you use your talk and text to know where you are going? GPS is probably the least distracting thing about the phone. There are a lot of other services that could be shut down selectively.

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FirmLibrary4893 t1_iy3ohlz wrote

sure, you didn't say that, though

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Abitconfusde t1_iy4erlr wrote

No, I assumed -- incorrectly, I guess -- that anyone reading that comment would know that GPS is an important function that other people wouldn't be dumb enough to propose shutting that off.

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CrownStarr t1_iy3ovv3 wrote

> Most phones can detect when they are travelling over 5 mph. Mandate that they stop working at 10 mph.

Sounds great until you’re in the passenger seat. Or on a bus. I do think phone use by drivers is insane and we’ve gotta curb it somehow, but unfortunately it’s not so simple as just detecting speed.

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Abitconfusde t1_iy4ezml wrote

I mean... ok. I don't really have a problem with turning off talk and text while someone is in a moving vehicle, regardless of if it is a driver or a passenger.

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