Reckless motorists who ‘surf’ the internet while driving may soon be stop by a software being developed by a Manchester-based car website.
WeLoveAnyCar.com, a Manchester based car review site, believe they can develop software that could disable mobile phone surfing while driving.
The safety feature would give a warning to the user if it detected fast movement – and could even disable mobile access if they travelled faster than 10mph.
A spokesman for the website said: “Technology will always outpace legislation and we should develop new features to help drivers focus on the road ahead.”
Using website tracking software, they discovered that some users were travelling at high speeds when they accessed the site.
A spokesperson for the website said: “Whilst users could be on trains and passengers in cars we have to consider some users may be using their smartphone whilst driving.”
WeLoveAnyCar.com is now calling for other large companies such as Google and Facebook, to follow suit and develop systems which inform their users of the dangers of using their mobile phones to send emails or update their profiles while driving.
“Google, Facebook, Twitter – they all have the resources to make our roads safer,” the site’s spokesman said.
A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of accidents (RoSPA) has warned of the dangers of surfing the net on smartphones while driving.
“Research has firmly established that using a mobile phone while driving adversely affects driver performance and increases the risk of crashing,” he said.
“Drivers using mobile phones are even more of an issue with the emergence of smart phones.
“People are not just making calls or texting from behind the wheel, but also using the internet, updating their Facebook status and tweeting.”
RoSPA believe that current deterrents are not effective, and that a major part of the problem is that current legislation is not being enforced effectively.
“Sadly, despite legislation which makes it illegal to do so, many people do still use a mobile phone behind the wheel,” the spokesman said.
“The effectiveness of legislation depends on how well it is enforced and ensuring that enough resources are available for high profile, intelligence led roads policing is important. This makes sure that it can act as a deterrent.
“If drivers know there is a good chance of getting caught if they use their phone while driving, they are less likely to risk doing so.”
Chief Inspector Rachel Buckle from the Roads Policing and Serious Collision Investigation Unit of Greater Manchester Police says that using a mobile phone while at the wheel is one of the main contributors to collisions.
“Whether it is to make a call, send a text or browse the internet, using your mobile phone while driving causes significant distraction,” she said.
“Nothing is more important than your life or the lives of others so leave your phone alone and give the road the full attention it deserves.”
Picture courtesy of Official Leweb Photos, with thanks.
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