Reader comments
U. device disables driver's cell phone while car is running

Not new | 4:09 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Devices to prevent cell phone use in vheicles has been around for years but everyone ignored them. Police departments already employ them and use them all the time. They are available for homes as well. But now that this technology has made the news, I am for anything to disable cell phone use in a vehicle. It will be a hard sell to install this technology in cell phones and automakers both. My question with this car key design, will it disable all cell phones in a vehicle including passengers? The problem with the car key concept is that car keys will soon find an aftermarket supplier that will not include the technology. This would also add more cost to the already costly car keys being used now. A device implanted in a vehicle by manufacturer and a required upgrade on all older vehicles would be less costly and more effective against disabling by owners. The cell phone companies would not have to be involved or change their service to its customers and have the same effect of disabling all cell phones in a vehicle and those in the immediate area. It's current technology readily available.

never fly | 6:52 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Unless the Government steps in and mandates the installation of Cell phone stopping devices (Can anyone say 1984), this idea will never fly. Their will always be less than intelligent individuals who insist on leaving on, and answering their cells while driving. I'm all about safety but I,m all about freedom to choose as well. Like Adult seat belt laws, isn't this another infringement on my personal right to choose what I want to do in my own vehicle, which by state law is also my own private property?

Phone Booth | 7:07 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Hopefully they make these deviced mandatory and a fine imposed for disabling them in any way. A car is not a phone booth.

Comments continue below

AZ | 7:14 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

No Cell Phones in Cars? Does anyone really think this will come to be? It is a nice thought, but not reality. Sorry.....

Buyer | 7:31 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Where can you buy them at or are they for sale yet

Laura | 7:34 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

I'm so tired of government control. Do you realize there are millions of people who use cell phones responsibly? I'm one of them. And if my child is at home and needs to talk while I'm running an errand, they have every right to. Make this device a choice not option.

Folks, the answer isn't in control..it's in consequence. If the laws were upheld, if people had to serve jail time, they their pocketbooks were hit, if people saw that we were serious...which we are not...then it would change.

A perfect example of this is child abuse. Mothers can neglect and kill their children and have no legal consequences. When we start holding parents responsible, parents will start thinking before they act. For now, it's painfully obvious that people can get away with murder.

So, if we are going to be consistent, then we need to start keeping tabs on people and decide whether or not they are worthy to be parents before they have kids. We can let them have limited access to sex....but certainly not let them pro-create...that would just be irresponsible, right?

O2bRich | 7:55 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

So what technology is available to prevent reading, applying makeup, quiet fighting kids, looking at maps and otherwise remove all the other myriads of distractions that come up while driving?

Anonymous | 7:58 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

What about my freedom to drive drunk? I cant believe there are people like 'laura' and 'notnew' who will stand up for their 'right' to put us all in danger simply because they think they can still drive and chat. Little hint, you cant. You are a horrible driver when you are on your phone.
It should be illegal to drive and use a cell phone.

Liberty | 7:59 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

If you are tired of gov't control, then demonstrate some self control! Turn off the darn phones, we're injuring and killing people so drivers can have a chat while they should be driving. Ethically and morally speaking, this is comparable to abortion. Is it always about you and no one else?

Ema | 8:01 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

The seat belt comparison is faulty because it only affects you (and your family, of course, if you are killed in an accident). If you are driving while texting, run a red light or drift into another lane and hit another car, you have very obviously affected someone else. It goes along with that old saying that your personal freedom ends where another person's body begins.

To Laura: | 8:08 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

When comparing to other incidents can you give the factual information, because every time I have read an article about a child being killed due to neglect the parent was sentenced to jail.

To Laura | 8:15 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

It is about using a cell phone while the car is running, for heaven's sake. I, for one am tired of driving near people who weave around the freeway while talking on a cell phone, who don't notice when to turn on a street and cut into you while talking on a cell phone. This is dangerous.

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE CONNECTED TO A TELEPHONE 24/7! Amazingly, people got along for many years without having to chat incessantly. I don't think cell phones ought to work while someone is driving.

Statistics | 8:34 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

So let's see the statistics on how many people are injured by drivers using cell phones vs drivers doing things like reading, putting on makeup, adjusting the radio, etc.

And some of us do need to be connected 24/7, because lives depend on us.

Control | 8:37 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

I agree that too much government control is bad but using a cell phone while driving is endangering other people. If it only affected the ones doing it then I would say fine, let them kill themselves. But when innocent people are at risk by inconsiderate behavior then something needs done. I could never understand the need to be constantly yaking anyway.

To Laura | 8:52 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Talk about too much government control to those who have lost a loved one because someone is so selfish that they can't pullover to use a cell phone. Studies show that you are as impaired driving while talking on a cellphone as while driving under the influence. So let's do away with all the drunk driving laws because, yeah, it's just to much government control!

to statistics | 8:54 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Lives depend on you not driving like crap. Other than that, your call can ALWAYS wait. There is no situation where you talking to someone while driving can 'save lives'.

Government control: great idea | 8:56 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

How about we invent a device to keep people from eating too much? Then we won't have fat people who burden the health care system. It will be good for them and everyone else. They'll have higher self-esteem and more money.

How about we put a device on people that disables them from having sex until they're married. That way, we won't have any irresponsible, unprepared parents, and this would be better for everyone.

Oh please.

BobP | 8:58 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

I have a little under 2000 hours as a pilot in light aircraft. We always used a headset, boom mike and a push to talk switch. I have used one ear bud a holding dock for the phone. It works fine.

Wait a minute | 9:14 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

I see police cars with computers, radios, cell phones, etc. Do you really believe THAT is safe?

To Statistics | 9:18 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Driving is not a right, it is a privelege...and therefore talking on your cell phone while you drive is not a right. It is beyond selfish to put everyone else on the road at risk so that you can talk or text on your cell phone. And to justify this use by the means that there are other distractions out there......."but what about everyone who puts their make-up on, or reads, or adjusts their radio?" Stop whining.
More than one wrong does not make a right!
Lives do depend on you.....everyone who drives on the road next to you depends on you to drive responsibly. And that means removing unnecessary distractions, including your dang cell phone.

Reading carefully | 9:38 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Umm, everyone,

Re-read the article. This device is NOT for government use. It was created for PARENTS to keep their teenagers from talking while driving. PARENTS log in to a website to set a password to enable the device.

Hmmm... | 9:51 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

The co-inventor (U of U alum) is a urologist. Interesting.

I can't help but wonder... is it safe or prudent to conduct that prostate exam while yappin' on a cell phone?

(nudge-nudge, wink-wink)

DR Don | 9:52 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

READ the article before posting a kneejerk reaction? What a novel concept!

Road Rage | 10:03 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

How do you call for help if your cell phone won't work? If road rage is occuring do you have to stop, take the key out and then call for help?

A Driver | 10:13 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

The article never stated that this would become a device required by law. It is an optional device, one that someone could use if they wanted to let callers know that they were driving, or that someone may required that their teenage use. My oldest is only 6, but I am hoping technology like this continues to improve so that by the time she is old enough to drive I will have the tools needed to help her be safer as a driver. Teenagers don't always listen to what their parents say and this will help.

Tony | 10:16 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

I was recently at a stop sign and rear-ended by an 18 year old at 40MPH! She was not on her cell phone she was watching a video on her freinds i-pod. This device is a good start, but there are too many distractions in a car to eliminate them all. Tuning a radio, putting on make-up, shaving, reading direction, disaplining the kids. Until they can make a device to get rid of all distractions while driving there will always be problems with distracted driver.

Really?! | 10:33 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

I bet fifty percent of the people commenting here have been on their phones at least once or twice
this last month.

Never fly | 10:44 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

has an attitude, and appears to be one of those important people who objects to the seat belt law.
He/she has the mistaken opinion that the sole purpose of seatbelts is to protect the driver, when a more important purpose is to protect passengers and other drivers. When you are forced to take evasive action by suddenly turning your steering wheel, without a seatbelt to keep you behind the wheel you will end up in the passengers seat or even the back seat, Its kind of tough to drive when you are not behind the wheel.

Why not... | 10:49 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

even go further than that and make it illegal period to talk on a cell phone while driving? Like California....

rusby | 10:57 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

I installed a faraday cage in my car a long time ago. No one ever receives a phone call in there. I plan on doing the same thing to my house soon also.

Not sure about that | 11:11 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Feature can easily be defeated by just keeping your Bluetooth off on your phone. No BT, means no ability for the device to communicate with the phone and put it in "park" mode.

George | 11:15 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

See someone driving way below the speed limit in the middle lane, pausing at a green light, turning without a turn signal, running a red light, etc. and it is more likely that they are cell phoning rather than are DUI. The blocking device is imperfect, but is is a start. My right to a safe driving environment supercedes your right to a cell phone while driving.

washcomom | 11:30 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Will this prevent all cell phones in the car from functioning, or only the driver's? When my husband has to make calls, I am the driver, and he is the passenger on the phone. I'm just wondering if the passenger still has access to the cell while another person drives.

Manufacturer | 11:31 a.m. Dec. 12, 2008

As a company building "Handsfree" bluetooth systems so drivers don't have to touch their phones while driving I will make sure our company is first in line to PROTEST this feature ever getting added into any vehicle.

While some people do abuse the use and Texting is just dumb to do while driving. Our systems let drivers do all these features "Handsfree" with their voice, the Microphones on our system and the speakers installed in the vehicle.

Money is tight now as is most times but if the Government does step in, it should be for the use of proper systems that let people do what they want but in the safest way possible. If HDTV is a "Must" do for the American public by a set date, something for older vehicles can have the same type date set for adding features for overall public safety....

Government Control | 12:17 p.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Several commentators have expressed concern regarding possible government control over cell phone use while driving, usually asserting it would infringe on a "right." I wonder if they are equally troubled that they have to pass a test to get a driver's license in the first place. These same individuals must take considerable umbrage at laws against speeding, drunk driving, and driving on the left side of the road. Perhaps they also feel the government overreaches by installing stop lights and stop signs.

Re: never fly | 1:05 p.m. Dec. 12, 2008

"Like Adult seat belt laws, isn't this another infringement on my personal right to choose what I want to do in my own vehicle, which by state law is also my own private property?"

Opponents of seat belt laws usually argue that not wearing one is a "victimless crime," therefore there is no reason to criminalize it. Such a view usually ignores the costs to society of higher insurance rates and social security payouts.

Cell phone use while driving, on the other hand, is no more a "victimless crime" or "right" than driving drunk or speeding.

RTDA | 2:19 p.m. Dec. 12, 2008

Said again and again, to no effect...

You can "allow" important numbers and hands-free devices. If you have a hands-free, it's not any different from talking to the person next to you.

It is certainly not just your own business what you do inside your 2,000-pound vehicle going 60 mph.

Key2safedriving Illegal | 8:45 a.m. Dec. 13, 2008

This product is a violation of my first amendment rights.

The research says listening impairs driving. What's next no radios and duck tape for passengers

wayne | 1:49 p.m. Dec. 13, 2008

You can tell how much our legislators are really concerned our safety when the fine for texting while driving is only $20.00 in Calif.

Too many people cannot even walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone talk and drive.

Text messaging while driving is pure insanity, and the penalty should be jail time and loss of their license!

Kelsey | 5:49 a.m. Dec. 23, 2008

I agree this is a good idea, many people i see driving talk on cell phones and DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD! So who is the driver here, the irresponsible drivers who talk on phones or the people who keep their eye on the wheel?

sean stewart | 8:03 p.m. Aug. 9, 2009

my son has been driving less than a year. He has rearended someone at a stop sign (the pedal stuck!). he had two flats at once(didn't know how). There is a hole the shape of a trailer ball in his front bumper(clueless as to how it got there),and today ran off the road , hit a curb, blew 1 tire and damaged another(messing with the radio). He and the lord are the only 2 that know the truth. I would bet his phone was the culprit in each case. If there was a device that disabled the car unless his phone was plugged in and turned off I would buy it tomorrow! In case you were wondering I did removing texting from his phone. The bad thing is that I use texting to comunicate with him when he isn't driving.

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University Of Utah

University of Utah engineers have invented a wireless car key device to stop teenage motorists from talking on their cell phone or sending text messages while driving.