US Government Wants Cell Phone Blocking Tech in Cars

The U.S. Department of Transportation has started investigating technology that would effectively disable the drivers' cell phones in their cars. This comes as a result of the ever increasing number of deaths and injuries attributed to distracted driving.

"There's a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones and we're looking at that. That's one way. But you have to have good laws, you have to have good enforcement, and you have to have people take personal responsibility. That's the bottom line," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated on MSNBC’s Morning Joe breakfast show.

The announcement follows an online campaign, started by the same Department of Transportation, in which victims speak about how their accidents changed their lives.

There are no nationwide laws in the US that regulate the use of cell phones while driving, though many states do impose fines on drivers who are texting or don’t use a headset/voice dialing system.

"When we ask young drivers about drunk driving, they say that judges should throw the book at drunk drivers, but not the person texting while driving. The bottom line is that people want to use these devices. And things are going to get worse before they get better," said Paul Atchley, a scientist at the University of Kansas, who believes that the figures could be much worse in the near future.

However, it is highly unlikely that cell phone jammers will be built into cars, as the Federal Communications Commission has made these devices illegal. Thus, the Department of Transportation is looking for a software solution that could use cell phone towers to estimate a car’s speed.