❗Let's close the gap: We still need your help to raise $40,000 by April 1. Donate now

Automakers will be asked to curb distracted driving

Marketplace Staff Jan 24, 2011
HTML EMBED:
COPY

Automakers will be asked to curb distracted driving

Marketplace Staff Jan 24, 2011
HTML EMBED:
COPY

TEXT OF STORY

JEREMY HOBSON: Alright so you probably agree that talking on your cellphone or texting while driving is dangerous. Well, sadly even though distracted driving kills more than 5,400 people each year, not everyone has gotten the message. So the Department of Transportation is holding talks this week and may ask carmakers to help curb the urge to talk or text and drive.

From WNYC, Alex Goldmark has more.


ALEX GOLDMARK: Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is normally mild-mannered. But he does have a pet issue.

RAY LAHOOD: We’ve been on a rampage against distracted driving for nearly two years.

And he’s taking that energy to Detroit tomorrow where he’ll meet with the CEOs of Ford and Chrysler. In a press conference last week, LaHood said he’d already talked with a handful of other carmakers.

LAHOOD: My meeting with car manufacturers have given them a lot of opportunity to think about how they can be helpful to us.

One way is advertising. He thanked Suburu for a commercial that discourages teens from talking and driving. But he’ll likely bring up some other ways to help, all voluntary of course. John Ulczyki of the National Safety Council knows what he’d bring up — eliminating technological incentives to talk.

JOHN ULCZYCKI: Automakers are developing products that automate the calling process. They make it easier to dial a phone, some of them even have voice to text kinds of systems.

But asking carmakers to drop these features that attract new buyers will be a tough sell.

In New York, I’m Alex Goldmark, for Marketplace.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.