Today, Ford became the first automaker to support the recent federal bill to ban cell phone use while driving. The automaker also seized the opportunity by reminding us of its Sync and MyFord Touch in-car communication systems as a viable solution to prevent accidents due to distracted driving.
Not surprisingly, the automaker also went into sales pitch mode and touted its Sync and MyFord Touch in-car communication systems as life savers.
“Ford believes hands-free, voice-activated technology significantly reduces that risk by allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road,” said Pete Lawson, Ford’s vice president of government affairs. He also stated that the automaker supports the bill “because it represents a practical, commonsense approach to a national problem.”
The issue has been a hot topic of many government studies and has led to a number of officials in Washington to draft federal laws to ban cell phone use in cars. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has been especially vocal and has stated his support of such a law. The ban took one step forward last month when Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill, dubbed the Safe Drivers Act of 2011, to the House of Representatives that calls for a nation-wide standard on cell phone and texting bans. The bill also includes a request for the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on distracted driving and would require every state to enact the DOT’s findings.
“Ford is demonstrating great leadership and being a good corporate citizen,” McCarthy said. “Research conducted in labs and on roads shows that activity drawing drivers’ eyes away from the road — whether text messaging, manually dialing a cellphone or reading maps — substantially increases the risk of an accident or near misses. Ford believes hands-free, voice-activated technology significantly reduces that risk by allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”
Source: Detroit News, Detroit Free Press
