Next step for banned handheld cellphone use... Tattletale.

[Dreamer]

Somebody's already figured out a way to make money from it...



EOBR device to add cell-phone use detection feature
Nov 29, 2011 10:25 AM, By Deborah Whistler, contributing editor FleetOwner

NavStar Technologies, has signed an agreement with Trinity Noble to add cell-phone usage detection while driving to its portfolio of electronic onboard recorder (EOBR) hardware and services.

NavStar chairman & CEO N. Douglas Pritt said the recent ban on handheld cell phones by commercial drivers is a boon to the company’s EOBR product.

“The ability to provide this feature in 2012 will give us a significant competitive advantage,” said Pritt.

NavStar Technologies produces products and services for tracking/monitoring and reporting on the location and condition of high value cargo and other assets,

“Every time a commercial truck or bus driver takes his or her eyes off the road to use a cell phone, even for a few seconds, the driver places everyone around them at risk,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

FMCSA added that its research shows that reaching for a hand-held cell phone while driving makes a commercial truck three times more likely to be involved in a crash, and dialing a hand-held cell phone while driving increases risk of a crash by six times.

Field trials of the cell phone detection services are planned for the second quarter of 2012.

 

[Turtle]

It'll be interesting to see if the cell phone detection technology can discern the difference between hand-held and hands-free, and the difference between driver and co-driver, not to mention the driver of the car next to you on the highway.

 

[turritrans]

I wonder how this will affect the companies using a smartphone type devise versus QC units?

 

[LDB]

Agreed about differentiation.

 

[mxzane933]

Agreed and what about your phone receiving incoming calls emails sms it has got to be frequency detection.wb headphones listening to music or using it as gps. Hmm looks like going to be alot of disturbance between driver and co.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC

 

[Dreamer]

The language of the ruling does allow for a driver to push one button to send or answer a call... dialing is what they're trying to get away from. So I guess 1 button speed dialing would be ok. I see a lot of 'discretionary enforcement' ahead.


Dale

 

[layoutshooter]

The amount of enforcement will be determined by the amount of money needed to fund State programs. Such as "free ice cream" for people who get laid off on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

The more money needed, the more things will be "enforced". It is all about the money and who is an "easy target". It is little or nothing to do with safety. A total joke.

 

[jaminjim]

The language of the ruling does allow for a driver to push one button to send or answer a call... dialing is what they're trying to get away from. So I guess 1 button speed dialing would be ok. I see a lot of 'discretionary enforcement' ahead.


Dale

So much for pressing 1 to talk to dispatch.

 

[60MPH]

The more money needed, the more things will be "enforced". It is all about the money and who is an "easy target". It is little or nothing to do with safety. A total joke.

Easy Target, Stopped in a rest area on I-81 north of Syracuse this a.m. and I saw about 18-20 easy targets in there getting worked over. If all those troopers where out on the interstate I am sure they could of made money off the speeders/wreck-less drivers, but why do that when you can make better money working over a CMV. I guess you don't have to worry about being mowed over or pulling over the wrong person and end up on the wrong side of the gun. Easy targets, easy MONEY!!!

Surprised they did not stop me on my way in to the restroom, they must not be aware of who I am

 

[moose]

Just to show you that this new ban, is all about money, and will not make our road any bit safer.
at a 5 billion $ for the first year, and 1.5 billion, once a mandated EOBR is in place, EOBR manufacturers have a lot in stake, and they let everyone know, including WDC.

 

[LDB]

Since it's all about safety I'm sure they will be also banning eating and drinking while driving as well as smoking while driving since both those things distract and occupy the hands more than talking on a hands free device.

 

[tknight]

I wonder if anyone has ever tracked good ole boy lahood, and seen what his cell phone habits are? Or for that matter anyone who is on the commitees to have thses laws made.

 

[ebsprintin]

It'll be interesting to see if the cell phone detection technology can discern the difference between hand-held and hands-free, and the difference between driver and co-driver, not to mention the driver of the car next to you on the highway.

And whether the co-driver is in the sleeper berth, and the call isn't work related.

eb

 

[cheri1122]

I wonder if anyone has ever tracked good ole boy lahood, and seen what his cell phone habits are? Or for that matter anyone who is on the commitees to have thses laws made.

I'd be willing to bet that neither Ray LaHood nor anyone with enough juice at FMCSA or DOT to affect passage of regulations actually drives at all, unless they feel like it. Very Important People have staff to take care of the petty details & drudgery so the Very Important Time isn't wasted, you know.
It will be VERY interesting to see how an EOBR manages the tasks that Navstar & Trinity Noble claim it can perform.
Does anyone else see the 'need' to install CC cameras inside the cab to verify the info gathered by the EOBRs, before too long?

 

[pearlpro]

BULLHOCKEY...I think we should get together and sign petitions against this ridiculous legislation, The FEEL GOODERS who think that Banning cell phones will reduce crashes causes me to think even more that the LAWMAKERS need to come ride along for a week and see what we do, How we do it and Professionally. I get tired of these ridiculous laws and the "ENFORCEMENT' which will amount to more truck inspections, what now when you drive thru a scale the newest device will be sniffing for our cell phone to see if its on or off.
Washington and LAHOOD is so far removed from the real truck driver and there Lives and what we do with cell phones such as report Crime, Keep a watch for TERROR subjects and act as the eyes and ears of Homeland security. I guess Ill write next time I see a car swerving lane to lane on the WORNG side of the highway !!!

 

[Scuba]

Don't forget about those pesky gvernment loads that require you to have a cell phone on so they can call you at any time to check up on you.

 

[greg334]

I think this is still a knee jerk reaction to something that is actually a trivial issue with no proof at all that it is detrimental to safety.

A few thoughts.

First will the states actually enforce the law, as mentioned at another site (where legal issues are discussed) will they accept the new regulation as a mandate or a regulation, and if they accept it as a mandate, then the feds should step up and provide funding.

Second on the legal end of it, is does the manufacturer of the device monitoring the cell phone have a legal right to do so, seeing that even if the FMCSA accepts that, there is a question of the rights of the individual under search laws that may prevent it from being used at all. At this point, there has been no case brought to the courts on the legality of searching phone records without a warrant in the case of a driver who falls under the FMCSA regulations (this is what I am told by a lawyer who works on these cases).

Remember one of the things that has been decided is that the sleeper is off limits to a general search without permission, probable cause or a warrant - this would not fall into any of them.

A third thought that popped into the conversation there is will congress tell the FMCSA to cool it on that idea because of the state's rights issue?

Now the technical issues the first being how would the unit make out what signals are the drivers and what are say the phone's. No matter what they say (the EOBR manufacturer), the phone connects in the same way as a call is made to do things like change cells and housekeeping. On top of that, the voice and data are all digital which means that it is almost impossible to figure out what's in the signal without some electronics behind the EOBR monitor system that can decipher the data which goes back to a legal issue and the individual right of privacy.

That said, smart phones use in many cases connections to find directions and keep up with info for driving. This means that the connection is made and kept while driving, which is again how does the unit figure out what is a phone call and what isn't if everything is digital.

Pretty much the EOBR monitor would lose out in a court case, and possibly the entire regulation could be lost in court unless the FMCSA would be able to prove that there is a true need for any thing like this, which they haven't.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

I'd be willing to bet that neither Ray LaHood nor anyone with enough juice at FMCSA or DOT to affect passage of regulations actually drives at all, unless they feel like it. Very Important People have staff to take care of the petty details & drudgery so the Very Important Time isn't wasted, you know.
It will be VERY interesting to see how an EOBR manages the tasks that Navstar & Trinity Noble claim it can perform.
Does anyone else see the 'need' to install CC cameras inside the cab to verify the info gathered by the EOBRs, before too long?

Yep...a web camera aimed on the drivers seat...that will do it..watch for the little red light to come on...and smile at the officer...
and you know what you all say...if you have nothing to hide, whats the problem?.....

 

[AMonger]

Yep...a web camera aimed on the drivers seat...that will do it..watch for the little red light to come on...and smile at the officer...
and you know what you all say...if you have nothing to hide, whats the problem?.....

From there it's only one more step to Winston Smith's telescreens. We've heard it said on this very forum: "If you've got nothing to hide..."

If there's such a thing as freedom in the future, they'll wonder of us how we wonder at the Germans decades ago: How could they not have seen this coming and done something about it?

Greg334 will be in favor of the driver cams, I'm sure. Regulated industry and all that.

--

You know the problem with bad cops? They make the other 5% look bad.

 

[underdog777]

Whats happen in America is people has forgot how to fight for their rights. All truckers have to do is quit hauling freight for two weeks and these dumba-- would stop the bull crap !