Jun 7, 2017
In an important move designed to tackle driver distraction caused by mobile phone use while driving, Apple announced yesterday that their latest operating system for iOS11 will contain a new “do not disturb while driving” mode. The new measure, announced at the Apple Developer Conference yesterday, has already been hailed as one that will save lives across the world and is likely to prompt Google to roll out a similar mode for Android devices.
Apple already know when a device is in a moving vehicle, connected to Bluetooth or a cable to the car, so the mode can turn itself on automatically without needing to be prompted. This mode also impacts iPhone users who are passengers too, who can disable the mode following a set process.
Do Not Disturb While Driving Mode will block all notifications (including texts, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger) and incoming calls if not connected to an in-car phone system. It will also lock the screen so a driver is unable to access ANY apps while moving.
A small handful of apps WILL work while driving, Google and Apple Maps will function, but you will be unable to input a new destination or change the search in Maps while still in motion. Some large app companies that deliver transportation services have expressed concerns that this creates a monopoly on driver attention if only a few apps can work on iPhones.
Users also have the option of setting up an auto reply so that if anyone calls or contacts you while driving, it automatically sends a message by text or messaging platform to say that you are driving and unable to respond now, try later.
The announcement follows a legal case 6 months ago where Apple was sued for not providing a do not disturb mode and a fatal accident occurred while someone was on Facetime while driving. Almost 25% of all fatal US road accidents are caused by mobile phone use and it’s on the rise.
Research published by the British Medical Journal link: (http://www.bmj.com/content/331/7514/428) shows that 60% of all accidents last year involved at least one driver using a mobile phone for a call or text, which is a huge reason why the police are getting tough on penalty points and fines for mobile phone use at the wheel.
I guess the first question on our minds is how long has Apple has taken to do this and why do it now? It doesn’t seem likely that they will be introducing this mode just because of one court case 6 months ago. It seems far more plausible that Apple can see that as the rate of accidents caused by mobile phone use rises, perhaps to the 60% rate of the UK, they need to put this feature in now to avoid any legal cases held against them in the years to come.
It will undoubtedly save some lives, but if passengers can easily get past the mode then what is the point, as some drivers will just pretend to be passengers surely? Isn’t this more of a gesture rather than a zero tolerance “iPhones will not operate when a vehicle is moving”
It also opens a wider issue about whether Google will follow Apple’s lead and roll out a similar mode on their operating system. Also will we start to see car manufacturers employ similar restrictions on their new app based dashboard consoles?
What do you think about this announcement? Is it great news and long overdue or do you think it’s just Apple trying to avoid big legal challenges in the future? Will Google follow and will it make car firms restrict in-car systems the same way? Let us know in the comments below.
Jun 7, 2017
As part of Operation Snap from October 2016 onwards, North Wales Police has been accepting dash cam, helmet cam and mobile phone footage from the public. Of the 100 clips submitted, 80 have led to driving convictions, in some cases leading to prison time for some drivers caught out by this new approach.
It comes at a time when there are 27% fewer traffic police on Britain’s roads than 2010, according to Home Office data. With the UK’s roads becoming increasingly lawless places to drive and with fewer police on the roads due to government cuts, the installation of a dash cam is a great way to protect a driver from false accident claims, with some insurers also offering 20% discounts on policies if you have a dash cam installed.
Dash cams as a video witness
But it seems that an interesting by product of dash cams is that they can also act as additional eyes and ears on the roads for the police, Operation Snap has proved such a success that other police forces across the country are looking at rolling out something similar in their own regions.
In a recent article from Auto Express, North Wales Police figured out that it took 15 hours of police time per incident to process and prosecute for each driving offence if a traffic police office caught someone in person. As camera footage is now being treated as an eye witness account of a driving offence, the amount of time to deliver a process and prosecute a penalty has tumbled to less than an hour.
The process of uploading the clips takes minutes and is very easy. Public generated video footage for driving offences is now accepted in court as evidence and covers a range of areas such as driving without due care and attention, dangerous driving, using a mobile phone at the wheel, improper control of vehicle and running red lights or contravening other traffic systems, such red line zones and bus lanes.
“The operation will enable our communities to help us assist in a key policing priority, to continue to keep the roads of South Wales safe. Our officers will still be policing the roads in our force area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week but we know that members of the public are keen to help, and I am pleased that with the support of Go Safe, we can provide an easier way to submit footage and images either whilst travelling as a passenger, or using the footage of dash cams that can submitted later when the driver has finished their journey.”
Jeremy Vaughan, Assistant Chief Constable of South Wales Police
Is this the future of traffic policing?
Only 2 penalties from 80 issued have been appealed thus far, as the power of video evidence is almost impossible to deny. Capturing offenders is a good thing and will perhaps make some drivers think twice about offending knowing a dash cam might be recording even if the police are not there.
However, using video footage as evidence of traffic offences is fine to an extent but it fails to hide what seems to be a bigger concern, that is a large decline in traffic police due to Government austerity measures. We told you in an article 2 months ago about how we think that Britain’s roads are becoming more binary. On the major arterial routes, they are becoming heavily monitored with cameras and ANPR every mile using “smart motorways” and then the clear majority is becoming more lawless and dangerous places to drive than ever before.
As the police pull away from the front line, is the concept of “crowd-sourced police intelligence” using dash cams the future of policing? Are dash cams going to be made compulsory for all drivers and would it be a law that all drivers must allow police access to that video evidence or face prosecution themselves? It sounds like something out of a sci fi novel but the way it’s going it could be a reality within 10 years.
Do you think this is a great way to support the Police on Britain’s roads or a sad indictment of the current state of the Police caused by years of Government cuts? Let us know in the comments below.
Image Credit – Pixabay
Sep 27, 2016
An in car DVD or TV system may feel like a luxurious purchase, but such systems are actually surprisingly affordable.
Furthermore, if you often travel with children or grandchildren (or restless adults!) these items can make long journeys far less stressful than they might be otherwise!
It’s worth noting that live in car TV isn’t really a realistic prospect in a moving vehicle. If you’ve ever had to set up a TV ariel (or perhaps even a coathanger!) you’ll know that maintaining a TV signal in something that moves isn’t feasible. That said, watching DVDs and media files stored on memory cards is very easy. If you have some form of in-car Wifi you may be able to stream TV and film content too.
The in car DVD / TV systems recommended below offer a surprising number of options and features. If you want to make your next family road trip the most stress-free ever, take a look at what’s on offer.
Before we start we must emphasise that these systems are not intended for drivers to watch while in command of a vehicle – something very foolish than we would never recommend not condone.
1. The Ultimate HD In Car DVD Option
If you like products with all the requisite “bells and whistles,” then this is the in-car DVD for you.
For starters it has an HD screen, though this isn’t the “full HD” you’ll see on a traditional TV. The product includes a region-free DVD player, but that’s just one option for watching content.
You can also make use of the SD card slot and USB port to play video files from a range of supported formats. There’s even a game disk, in case your passengers get bored with their video entertainment, and a remote control for those who find leaning forward in their seat too much effort!
Positives:
- Great quality picture.
- Lots of playback options.
- Positive online reviews.
Negatives:
2. The Actual TV Option
This is a very different beast to the last option. It’s a full blown Freeview TV in portable form, and it’s possible to power it with a rechargeable battery, or from a car cigarette lighter.
As we explained at the start, it’s not feasible to watch live TV with an ariel while you’re moving along, but it will work just fine when stationary – making it ideal for caravans and motorhomes as well.
While you are moving, you can instead watch media files and listen to music using a connected USB stick or MicroSD card. You can also use this to record live TV when you have a signal – for viewing later. Please note however that this option does NOT include a DVD player.
Positives:
- A genuine portable television.
- Runs on battery, mains, or 12V power.
Negatives:
- No headrest mount included.
- No HD.
3. A Simple Option for Families
This twin-screen system from Bush ss perfect for families, as your back-seat passengers can not only have a screen each, but each watch something different. This is a perfect way to keep everyone happy.
This system doesn’t offer that many added extras, but comes with everything you need. There’s a remote control, 12V and AC adaptors, and earphones all in the box.
While it should be possible for both passengers to watch the same DVD, some reviewers have had issues with this feature – so you may wish to check before buying.
Positives:
- A low-cost twin-screen system.
- Allows two passengers to watch different DVDs.
Negatives:
- No USB or SD card input option.
- Fairly low resolution.
4. A Flexible Alternative
This one’s a great option for people who want to take their in car DVD player elsewhere, as it’s designed as a completely stand-alone portable DVD system. Despite this, it comes with the necessary headrest mountings for in-car use.
This makes it perfect for people who want to use it in the car, then chuck it in hand luggage to watch on a plane, for example.
The DVD player has a USB input and an SD card slot, so playback options aren’t restricted to DVD alone. The battery life is notably good as well – quoted at up to five hours when away from power.
Positives:
- Truly portable.
- Lots of playback options.
- Can be linked with a second screen if you buy two!
Negatives:
- Speaker volume isn’t especially loud.
5. The Feature-Packed Twin Pack
This Voyager-branded in car DVD system costs a little more than the Bush twin-pack above, but justifies the extra cost with some additional features.
The screens are slimline LEDs, and the headrest mounts are sophisticated, making for easy removal when parked.
The screens also come with USB and SD card inputs, something notably absent on the cheaper Bush system. Teenagers with their own electronic media files are sure to appreciate this feature.
Positives:
- Great headrest mountings.
- Option to add wireless headphones.
Negatives:
- Some reviews raise reliability concerns.
Aug 17, 2016
Are you one of those people who puts your foot down as you approach the traffic lights in an attempt to screech through just before amber turns to red? Or are you one of the cautious ones who begins to slow down in anticipation of “go” turning to “stop?”
Audi drivers in the USA will soon have some extra information to draw on. A news report has emerged revealing that Audi is working on some new car tech that will allow vehicles to directly communicate with traffic lights.
If this all sounds rather “sci-fi,” it’s worth remembering that self-driving cars are already being trialled. Therefore, this is actually a relatively simple thing to implement in technical terms.
The technology involved is known as “V to I” (Vehicle to Infrastructure). According to the report, the technology could soon work hand in hand with the “V to V” (Vehicle to Vehicle) communication that will one day allow self-driving cars to communicate with one another.
How will cars talk to traffic lights?
So what exactly will this technology do? There are two key functions, both based on a count-down display on the car’s dashboard. One will show a countdown to the light going green, disappearing just before to allow the driver to refocus on the road. The second countdown will appear on approaching a light, notifying a driver how long it will be until the light changes to red.
Obviously, the idea is that this latter countdown will warn drivers when there’s not enough time to get through the light before it changes. However, there’s no accounting for human nature. As such, one has to wonder how many drivers will simply try to “beat the countdown!”
It seems this has occurred to Audi too. The manufacturer has made clear that this feature is for “comfort and convenience” and not for safety.
Audi A4s and Q7s are expected to appear next year with this feature on board. To begin with, it will only function in a handful of (as yet unrevealed) US cities. There’s not yet any indication of any UK roll-out.
What do you think of this new piece of car tech? Pointless? Useful? Dangerous? Let us know in the comments!
Aug 10, 2016
If we’d talked about car WiFi a decade ago, it would have sounded like the stuff of science fiction. However, it helps to keep in mind the fact that ten years ago nobody had yet laid eyes on an iPhone or iPad!
The world is very different now; These devices are ubiquitous. For many, they’ve changed road travel in all kinds of ways. Consider the following:
- Many people now use their smartphone as their key satellite navigation device.
- Many individuals also store music on their phones, or use Internet streaming services such as Apple Music or Spotify as their main source of music. The “iPod input” of 2006 is now more than likely to be used as an input for a smartphone.
- Families often use Internet-connected devices to provide entertainment during long journeys. An iPad with access to streaming movies or a Kindle book can make such road trips far less stressful, as many parents will surely attest.
With all this in mind, it actually makes complete sense to have WiFi in the car when traveling. While a smartphone with data connectivity is useful to a point, it’s not much use to a family, who may all want their own connectivity for different devices. Furthermore, unlimited WiFi on smartphone tariffs is increasingly rare, and will soon add up if multiple people are all using data at once.
How to get Car WiFi
New cars are starting to appear with onboard Internet hotspots, but it’s just as easy to add one to an existing vehicle.
Essentially, all you need is a router for mobile broadband. These connect to the Internet using the same cellular network as your mobile phone, but also create a mobile hotspot that multiple passengers can connect to. For example, your passenger can stream music to the car stereo while your kids watch YouTube videos on their tablets in the back.
While any 4G router will serve the purpose to a point, devices have started to appear that are specifically designed for car WiFi use. One example is the Buzzard 2 device from EE (pictured). As you can see, this is designed to plug directly into a cigarette lighter socket in order to stay powered. Passengers just connect to it like any other WiFi hotspot.
Taking Things Further
Something like the Buzzard device is great for UK travel, but can get rather expensive if you travel further afield. Some of the tariffs available at the time of writing include some EU roaming data, but only 100MB’s worth.
This may sound like a lot but it’s really not – it actually amounts to about 10 mins of YouTube playback! It’s therefore not an awful lot of use if you’re planning a road trip through Europe (or elsewhere) unless you’re prepared to pay a lot of extra charges.
Another option is to take a look at a company called MIOWIFI. This firm does things rather differently, offering a service they describe as “portable WiFi for travellers.”
Essentially, MIOWIFI uses mobile broadband routers just like traditional providers. This is basically the same technology we’ve already talked about above. However, they’ve geared their service specifically to travellers to over 110 countries, who wish to avoid those roaming charges everyone dreads. The other most significant difference is that MIOWIFI rent out their devices as well as selling them.
The idea of this is that you can borrow a device for the duration of a holiday or business trip. When you arrive you switch on, connect to a local cellular provider, and have unlimited data to share with up to ten people.
This means you can, for example, hire a device, fly to the USA, and switch it on in your hire car to give yourself and your family unlimited car WiFi abroad. Prices range from £4 to £8 per day. When you’re done you post the device back to them.
Taking the Internet with you
It’s worth noting the MIOWIFI device isn’t only intended for car WiFi. You can use it wherever you want. So, you can use it (in the UK or abroad) in the car, in hotels, in rental properties and anywhere else. If you consider what it can sometimes cost to hook up to WiFi whilst travelling (and how pitifully slow this can sometimes be), the prices are really rather low when you consider that up to ten people can connect at once.
If you think about it, MIOWIFI is actually worth consideration for a UK holiday too. The reason being that traditional mobile Internet plans often have data caps and long contracts. If you only go on one or two long road trips each year, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to pay when you’re not using the device – and pay as you go options are never unlimited.
As you can see, there are plenty of options for car WiFi, but MIOWIFI does provide an interesting and slightly different proposition, especially if you want an absolute guarantee you won’t get hit by roaming charges abroad. Parents who rely on Kindles and tablets to make long journeys tolerable could find renting one of these devices makes the road trip part of the summer holidays more enjoyable than they thought possible!
May 3, 2016
If you’re still one of those people who thinks of self drive cars as the stuff of science fiction, it’s time to get used to the reality. Volvo has announced one of the largest UK trials of such vehicles, which will include families being transported in “autonomous” cars on public roads in London as soon as next year.
According to a report in The Telegraph, there will be up to 100 of these vehicles driving themselves around the UK by 2018. With the speed that technology moves, it’s reasonable to expect plenty more trials of this nature in the next couple of years. Another has already been announced for Greenwich this summer.
Learning to “drive” self drive cars
Meanwhile, the European Transport Safety Council is discussing how to adapt driving tests to take account of the continual development of self drive cars.
One of the key points is in training drivers when to decide to “take back control” of a vehicle that is designed to be autonomous. One can imagine this being quite a judgement call when trust is placed in the hands (or wheels) of a machine! It will therefore be key to ensure drivers understand how the underlying technology works. According to the report, the self drive cars themselves will also have to be capable of passing a driving test!
In other related recent news, The Telegraph has also been discussing autonomous features that are already reasonably widespread, specifically autonomous breaking, which can spot upcoming hazards and brake if you fail to yourself.
Apparently, studies show that cars with these systems can reduce incidents of driving into the vehicle in front by nearly 40%. However, thanks to confusion over the naming conventions of these systems, they’re not being adopted by drivers as quickly as would be ideal.
As the functionality of self drive cars improves, the real battle will be to persuade traditional drivers to trust them. A recent study suggested that 75% of US drivers “fear” these autonomous vehicles. Let us know what you think in the comments!
