Autoblog

Volkswagen shuts down after-hours e-mail, allows employees to have lives again

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, UAW/Unions

Add this one to the list of reasons Europeans have it better than we do, right after diesels and manual transmissions: No more "catching up on e-mail" while you should be spending time with your family. Or sleeping. Or watching Baywatch reruns.

According to the BBC, Volkswagen has bowed to demands from its trade unions to limit corporate e-mail access by turning off its Blackberry servers 30 minutes after the close of business, and leaving them off until the next morning. The agreement comes after some workers complained that their home and work lives were overlapping. The BBC says this may be part of a growing trend in Europe, where CEOs are recognizing that tethering their employees to smart phones may not be such a good thing.

Volkswagen shuts down after-hours e-mail, allows employees to have lives again originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Yes, Porsche Design has made its own Blackberry

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Porsche, Design/Style, Infotainment

While its styling has refined over successive generations, you don't buy a Porsche for how it looks. You buy one for how it works. And the same could be said of a BlackBerry. The favorite communications tool of businesspeople worldwide and a number of private consumers as well, the BlackBerry is - like a Porsche - more about function than form. Leave it to Porsche Design, then, to up its style factor.

Having already produced phones on its own, Porsche Design has long been rumored to be working on a project for Research In Motion, the Canadian company responsible for unleashing the addictive device upon the world. And here it is.

The co-branded "Porsche Design P'9981 Smartphone from BlackBerry" packs a 1.2 GHz processor, HD video camera, eight gigs of internal (expandable) memory, a QWERTY keyboard and BlackBerry 7 OS into a slick forged stainless steel case with leather back and a touch display screen. A personal concierge service is included with the P'9981, which still doesn't make its estimated $2,000 price tag any more reasonable. Then again, it's the kind of thing you'd expect a style-conscious business executive to be talking on when he cuts you off in his Panamera. Details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Yes, Porsche Design has made its own Blackberry

Yes, Porsche Design has made its own Blackberry originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BlackBerry outage coincides with reduced number of traffic accidents

Chris Shunk — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology

When BlackBerry servers crashed between Tuesday and Thursday last week, owners of the popular business phones were left without a tool they've come to rely on. At the same time, the server crash could have made roads in the Middle East that much safer.

The National reports that traffic accidents in Dubai dropped 20 percent compared to historical averages during the blackout. In Abu Dhabi, accidents dropped by 40 percent, and there were zero fatalities. If you're thinking that this isn't a significant enough sample to show that smart phones and distracted driving are inexorably linked, consider this: There is an accident in Dubai every three minutes.

Dubai police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim pointed out to The National that the accidents resulting from distracted driving "range between minor and moderate ones, but at times they are deadly." Officer Al Harethi took it a step farther, adding "the roads became much safer when BlackBerry stopped working."

While the loss of BlackBerry service was no doubt a major inconvenience, these real-life statistics once again show that smart phones and driving just don't mix.

BlackBerry outage coincides with reduced number of traffic accidents originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple to reject apps that include DUI checkpoints

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology

In conjunction with this week's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple has updated its App Store Review Guidelines, and part of the new approval process includes a section that prohibits the inclusion of DUI checkpoints in iOS apps.

Section 22.8 states:

Apps which contain DUI checkpoints that are not published by law enforcement agencies, or encourage and enable drunk driving, will be rejected.

The updated terms come a few months after a group of U.S. Senators sent letters of concern to Apple, Google and RIM, asking the smartphone companies to remove any and all apps that would inform users of DUI checkpoints.

While developers might be able to remove the DUI stop functionality from their apps, most of the programs that identify law enforcement activity and speed traps are crowd-sourced, meaning users could submit the checkpoints themselves without the app's devs knowing what they're identifying.

Neither Google or RIM have modified their app review guidelines yet, but if history holds true, where Apple goes, so goes the industry...

Apple to reject apps that include DUI checkpoints originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Audi introducing roadside assistant apps for iPhone, Android, Blackberry

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 10 May 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Audi

Audi is rolling out a new roadside assistance app for owners equipped with an iPhone, Blackberry or Android device, and drivers with older Audis can get in on the action as well.

Once you've download the app from the corresponding store, you enter your VIN and some basic personal information, and get access to Audi's roadside assistance program supplied by Allstate. Jump-starts, fuel delivery and towing are included in the service - free for new owners and requiring a fee for older models. The app also includes a dealer locator and taps into your smartphone's GPS functionality to pinpoint your location.

The Curve and Bold are the first two Blackberrys supported by the app (download here), with the iPhone and Android versions available at the Apple App Store and Android Market, respectively. Full details in the press blast after the break.

Continue reading Audi introducing roadside assistant apps for iPhone, Android, Blackberry

Audi introducing roadside assistant apps for iPhone, Android, Blackberry originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hands-on with Jaguar's next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Jaguar, Infotainment

Jaguar shows off next generation Blackberry interface - Click above to watch the video

Jaguar trotted out a modified version of its XJ to Blackberry World 2011, RIM's international developer's conference, with a prototype smartphone integration system developed in conduction with Denso, RealVNC and RIM.

The setup works much like Terminal Mode, porting the smartphone's (in this case, a Blackberry Torch) UI directly into the eight-inch screen mounted on the dash. Rather than displaying a watered-down interface, the "Connect and View" system allows users to interact with the exact UI through the touchscreen, mirroring all the functionality of the Blackberry - from maps to apps to the music interface - along with softkeys to replace the device's physical buttons. The system also allows Jaguar to block apps and functionality that could be distracting to the driver. The VNC protocol is transferred over USB and keeps the phone constantly charging, while audio is streamed over Bluetooth. Connect and View has been developed specifically for the Blackberry, but Jaguar claims the system is device-agnostic, so Android and Windows Phone 7 versions could be in the cards. But don't hold your breath for iOS implementation.

Jaguar says the system could come to market as early as next year and our compatriots at Engadget got a hands-on with the system at the show. Check it out after the jump, along with more details on Connect and View and Jaguar's latest iPhone app - "Driven Intelligence" - that's available as a free download from the Apple App Store.

[Sources: Jaguar, Engadget]

Continue reading Hands-on with Jaguar's next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry

Hands-on with Jaguar's next-gen mobile integration for Blackberry originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bentley launches line of branded leather smartphone, iPad cases

Aaron Richardson — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Bentley, Design/Style, Luxury

Bentley leather accessories - Click above for high-res image gallery

In keeping with the times and the fact that most of its customers are using their iPhones and iPads and Blackberries like it's their job, Bentley has released a line of leather cases for these devices in conjunction with its hide supplier, Ettinger. The cases come in your choice of Bentley's Hotspur or Beluga - colors familiar to buyers of the Benley Continental Supersports. The cases are cut from the same material as Bentley's famous interiors, for which Ettinger is also responsible.

Ettinger has been spitting out hand-crafted leather pieces for 70 years now, so it's safe to say they know what they're doing. In addition to the line of mobile telecom holders, Ettinger makes Bentley wallets, passport holders, luggage tags, purses and the brand's keyholders.

All of Ettinger's accessories are handmade in the company's Birmingham, England factory. As expected, the Ettinger line is pretty dear, with the iPad case commanding $146. If you don't have an iPad but rock an iPhone or Blackberry, you're in luck, as Ettinger's smartphone cases command a more reasonable $73. Want more details? Check out the official press release after the jump.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley launches line of branded leather smartphone, iPad cases

Bentley launches line of branded leather smartphone, iPad cases originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Crossover, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW X3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're about to drive the 2011 BMW X3, but before we get behind the wheel, BMW has announced pricing for its next-gen. cute 'ute, and as before, the new CUV will be offered in two trims. The base X3 xDrive28i, which features a 240 horsepower inline-six, will start at $37,625. The more powerful xDrive35i, which boasts a 300-hp turbocharged six-cylinder engine, starts $41,925. Both models come standard with all-wheel drive and BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission. The 2011 BMW X3 will arrive in dealer showrooms at the end of 2010, and both models will be available at launch.

Additionally, Blackberry users will have something to be excited about. The X3 is fitted with technology to pull loads of utility out of its smartphone integration. The navigation screen can display emails when the car is stationary, and when it's in motion, the system utilizes a text-to-speech program to read messages through the audio system.

The base price of the 2011 BMW X3, even though the car has been refreshed and features more standard items, is less than the 2010 model it replaces. It's a $2,100 price drop down from the 2010 base MSRP of $39,725.

Gallery: Paris 2010: BMW X3

Continue reading BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3

BMW announces pricing for 2011 X3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lexus launches iPhone app for Lexus Enform users

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Lexus

In-car infotainment and emergency aids like Sync, OnStar, COMAND and iDrive might be the pin-ups who get the boys' attention, but there's another beauty in the corner quietly adding features and getting into better shape: Lexus Enform. Toyota's luxury brand hasn't put the bullhorn to work for Enform, and you can't find it in any Toyota yet, but it's still hard at work on the system.

The latest addition is a mobile app for the iPhone that will let you plan a trip on the phone and send it to the car. If it's a trip you want to let your 413 Facebook friends know about, you can also share it in an instant. The app is available now for the iPhone, and will be ready on October 15 for Blackberry and Android users.

[Source: Lexus]

Lexus launches iPhone app for Lexus Enform users originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW introducing iPad docks for back seats, iPhone 4 integration

Zach Bowman — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:28:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Technology, Paris Motor Show, BMW, Luxury

BMW ConnectedDrive - Click above for high-res image gallery

Good news, Apple fans. BMW has turned up the level of smart phone integration in its vehicles in a big way. The company will be showing off its new ConnectedDrive system at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The swank tech not only boasts Bluetooth wizardry and a text-to-speech function that will allow drivers to access text messages, memos, emails and the like from their Blackberry, it will also work with Apple iOS4. That means that the system clicks with the latest iPhone.

But wait, there's more.

The German manufacturer is also introducing something it calls iPod Out that's designed to make the most of using Apple music players in the vehicle. There's even a handy docking system for the iPad in the back seats. What's more, BMW will offer a mobile hotspot system with ConnectedDrive so that passengers can surf the web without burning up their data plans. Welcome to the brave new world. Thanks for the tip, Chris!

Gallery: BMW ConnectedDrive

[Source: BMW]

BMW introducing iPad docks for back seats, iPhone 4 integration originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Viper releases SmartStart for Android devices

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Up until now, anyone with an iPhone or Blackberry and a vehicle with a Viper alarm system could control a range of features from their SmartStart-equipped smartphone. Now Viper is extending that functionality to Google-powered devices through its free app in the Android Marketplace.

Vehicles equipped with the SmartStart hardware can start their engines remotely, pre-warm or pre-cool the insides and, depending on the implementation, lock and unlock doors, pop the trunk and arm their vehicle through their phones. If a baddy cracks the window, an alert is sent to the smartphone and if you've got more than one vehicle equipped with the hardware/software combo, you can keep tabs on all your rides through the system.

Full details in the cheese-laden video and accompanying press release after the jump.

[Source: Viper via TalkAndroid]

Continue reading Viper releases SmartStart for Android devices

Viper releases SmartStart for Android devices originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: There's a (new) app for that

Zach Bowman — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Videos, Jeep, Luxury, Off-Road

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee iPhone App - Click above to watch video after the jump

Chrysler has decided to move the owner's manual for the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee out of the paper world and into the ethereal realm of the iPhone App. According to the company, users will have access to all of the standard vehicle system information they're used to, but will also be able to view videos on special vehicle features, connect with other Grand Cherokee owners across the country and Chrysler will also be able to receive user feedback through a number of social media connections.

The cool part is that the app is free to anyone. You don't have to own a Grand Cherokee or lay down any of your hard earned cash if you're curious about the vehicle. At first, the app will only be available for the iPhone and iPod Touch, but will eventually crop up on Blackberry and Android platforms as well. We're a little curious to see if the SUVs will still be available with hardcopy manuals, or if the company will forego paper all together. If it does, what happens in 10 years when the current generation of smart phones are all relics? A whole population of second-hand Grand Cherokee owners may never know what their FCW OFF light means.

Hop the jump to see Chrysler's video introducing the app.

Gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: There's a (new) app for that

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee: There's a (new) app for that originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIM and BMW collaborate on iDrive-controlled BlackBerry integration [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:32:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, BMW

BMW iDrive BlackBerry connectivity - Click above to view the video after the jump

Research In Motion has been hard at work bringing new ways to integrate the functionality of its BlackBerry devices into the automobile. We recently brought you news of RIM's acquisition of QNX Software Systems, but before that partnership comes to fruition, several automakers (most recently including Ford, for example) have been working with the Canadian electronics firm - now one of the top five mobile phone-makers in the world - to bring the BlackBerry into the cabin in a distraction-free manner.

The latest collaboration revolves around BMW's iDrive system, which has now been linked up with the BlackBerry to provide limited functionality while behind the wheel. Connecting through Bluetooth, the iDrive controller will now be able to read email messages aloud to the driver and occupants, and initiate calls either from the email sender or from the phone's contact list, displayed on the dash-top screen. The feature is being rolled out first on the new Pearl 3G, but is slated to arrive to all new devices running the new BlackBerry 6 mobile operating system.

Follow the jump to watch a video of the feature in action, as demonstrated on a 335is.

[Source: Phone Scoop via Engadget]

Continue reading RIM and BMW collaborate on iDrive-controlled BlackBerry integration [w/video]

RIM and BMW collaborate on iDrive-controlled BlackBerry integration [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 May 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2011 Ford Fiesta to include AppLink, voice-control Blackberry and Android apps [w/videos]

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford, Lincoln

Ford SYNC with AppLink - Click above for high-res image gallery

On our way to Stanford last week, we came across a murdered-out Toyota Prius with an "I♥OPEC" vanity plate. Prime Twitter fodder if we've ever seen it. Unfortunately, even with our smartphone streaming navigation directions and a podcast through the Ford Fusion's SYNC system, we couldn't safely tweet our find. Well, Ford's about to rectify that issue with the introduction of AppLink, a downloadable upgrade to the SYNC infotainment system that allows drivers to control their smartphone apps through voice commands.

AppLink will be exclusive to the 2011 Ford Fiesta when it hits dealers later this year and, at launch, it will only work with Blackberry and Android-powered devices running SYNC software. When it does arrive, the first three supported apps are Stitcher, Pandora (bye-bye XM/Sirius) and Orangatame's OpenBeak Twitter program. More apps are sure to be available in the following months and Ford has setup a developer channel on SYNCMyRide to get programmers going.

For those of you currently rolling in a SYNC-equipped Ford or Lincoln, AppLink will be available as a download sometime next year, and for all you Apple fanboys, fear not, iPhone integration is on the way. Make the jump for all the details and a brace of videos showing off the technology.

Gallery: Ford SYNC with AppLink

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Fiesta to include AppLink, voice-control Blackberry and Android apps [w/videos]

2011 Ford Fiesta to include AppLink, voice-control Blackberry and Android apps [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW introduces smartphone app for roadside assistance

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:40:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, BMW

BMW Roadside Assistance smartphone app - Click above for image gallery

When it comes to the side of the road, let's just say you're not looking to get more familiar with it. Being stuck there is bad enough; being stuck there in a luxury car might be considered even worse. BMW wants to take a some of that edge off by making it easier to get help, introducing a personalized smartphone app for its BMW Roadside Assistance.

If Ultimate Service was included with your new or pre-owned BMW, then you can take advantage of it, or those who adopted too early can purchase an annual subscription. It works on iPhones, BlackBerries and Android phones - sorry, Palm and WinMo - and expedites requests for any BMW registered in the U.S. since 1975. Follow the jump for the press release, and look what you can do with your smartphone in the gallery of photos below.

Gallery: BMW Roadside Assistance smartphone app

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW introduces smartphone app for roadside assistance

BMW introduces smartphone app for roadside assistance originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIM's latest acquisition could bring Blackberry integration to the automobile

Noah Joseph — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

Ask the average auto enthusiast what RIM stands for and they'll probably think of wheels. To gadget freaks, however, it's shorthand for Research In Motion, the Canadian electronics company behind the Blackberry. Those two worlds could be heading on a collision course, however, if the latest corporate acquisition is any indication.

Although iPhone integration is becoming more commonplace in automobiles, the Blackberry has been largely left out in the cold. How do you integrate a tiny QWERTY keyboard into a car's dash, after all, without running the risk of seriously distracting the driver?

The answer could be coming from QNX Software Systems. The Ottawa-based company currently owned by Harman International is the target of RIM's latest acquisition. And according to RIM's co-CEO Mike Lazaridis, the take-over could stand to "further integrate and enhance the user experience between smartphones and in-vehicle audio and infotainment systems". Sounds promising, even if we have no idea at this point what form that integration might take. But when it comes to a device so addictive it's known as the "Crackberry", it was really only a matter of time. Details of the acquisition in the press release after the jump.

[Source: RIM via Engadget]

Continue reading RIM's latest acquisition could bring Blackberry integration to the automobile

RIM's latest acquisition could bring Blackberry integration to the automobile originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM and OnStar unveil Volt mobile apps, we try them out [w/videos]

Tim Stevens — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, CES, Technology, Chevrolet

It's time for the Consumer Electronics Show and so it's also time for the techiest cars on the road (and those which haven't quite made it there yet) to strut their stuff. General Motors and OnStar took a little time last night to show off the Volt mobile apps that will launch with the car, which were formally announced last night, and we were there to try them out and capture a little video. Worth getting excited about? We think so, but read on to find out for yourself.

Gallery: Chevy and OnStar CES Event

Continue reading GM and OnStar unveil Volt mobile apps, we try them out [w/videos]

GM and OnStar unveil Volt mobile apps, we try them out [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mercedes-Benz and Hughes release app-based "mbrace" telematics for iPhone, Blackberry

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz has teamed up with Hughes Telematics to begin offering a new system that allows drivers to enable dozens of their vehicles features with their Apple iPhone or Blackberry.

Dubbed "mbrace," the telematics setup covers everything from locking and unlocking doors to contacting roadside assistance and pinpointing an mbrace-equipped Mercedes-Benz in a parking lot.

The system will be included on all new Mercedes products, and current customers with the automaker's outgoing Tele Aid system are eligible to retrofit their aging Mercs with mbrace. The technology could also be used to stream music from the web, upload video content and connect to users PCs, however, that's further down the road. The system is available now for $280 a year, and you can get all the details in the press release below the fold.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz and Hughes release app-based "mbrace" telematics for iPhone, Blackberry

Mercedes-Benz and Hughes release app-based "mbrace" telematics for iPhone, Blackberry originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

"Bonjour, Michel": Citro�n C6 Office -- like KITT for French businessmen

Alex Nunez — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:02:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Citroën

Click above for a gallery of the Citroen C6 Office

Citroën and Intersection magazine have integrated KITT-like visual style with a number of in-car distractions to create the C6 Office, a rolling style project aimed at European business overlords. It'll make its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, a favorite the yacht-and-helo set it's meant to appeal to. From there, it'll head to Paris Fashion Week for another go-round before the bourgeoisie, ultimately trickling down to the rabble at the Paris Motor Show in October.

The variety of partners involved in the creation include Blackberry and Kenwood on the technical side, while Krug champagne and swanky food store Fauchon ensure that backseat wheeler-dealers stay drunk and well-fed. Alcantara appears to adorn everything above the beltline inside and a "Black Shadow" finish covers the exterior surfaces, from the grillework down to the Parotech wheels. We'll bring you live shots of the C6 Office in October when we see it along with the rest of the filthy peasants in Paris.

Gallery: Citroen C6 Office

[Source: Citroën via Zercustoms]

"Bonjour, Michel": Citro�n C6 Office -- like KITT for French businessmen originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Legislate me: drivers favor ban on distractions

Erin Mays — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Safety, Technology

A recent study by Response Insurance, a national car insurer, says that cell phones aren't the only driver distractions people want banned. Reading, grooming, and even listening to MP3 players or iPods were on the list with significant support.

A few interesting results of the survey is that more Blackberry users favor government legislation banning their use behind the wheel than non-Blackberry users (65 to 58 percent, respectively), and 28 percent of the population says that even hands-free cell phone devices should be banned.

It's no surprise that a whopping 79 percent of people favor banning reading behind the wheel, 72 percent favor banning texting, and 68 percent favor banning grooming, but a surprising number of people are also all for banning eating, smoking and listening to iPods or MP3 players (36, 34 and 28 percent, respectively).

Thanks to Jamie for the tip.

[Source: Response Insurance via Yahoo! Finance]

Legislate me: drivers favor ban on distractions originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments