Latest: Cell phones help reduce traffic accidents!

Car repellent: Just don't call it a phone

(Credit: CNET Networks)

We've heard plenty of stories recently about how cell phones can visit all manner of disasters on the human race, from rendering us infertile to burning our houses down, not to mention the death and destruction that they wreak on the roads.

So it's about time we got a good-news story about the world's favorite gadget. Nissan announced today that it is working on a program that will enable cell phones to communicate with its cars to reduce the risk of pedestrians being knocked down. Nissan's Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) uses 3G cellular communications networks to collect GPS data on the position of mobile-phone wielding pedestrians in relation to cars on the road. If the system detects that a pedestrian is directly in the path of a vehicle, it will alert the driver of a potential accident by activating a visual or audible warning in the cabin.

The pedestrian-location system is part of a wider trial of new technologies that Nissan is conducting in partnership with Japanese wireless company NTT Docomo in Kanagawa prefecture near Tokyo, so don't expect it to be available on your next Sentra. If the technology does make it to production, however, it raises some interesting questions about the idea of banning gadgets in order to protect pedestrians from traffic accidents.

[bearbehind]

No cell phones while moving at all

If the driver of the car would hang up the cell phone, he/she would notice whether there was a pedestrian in front of the car. 100% of cars weaving from one side of the lane to another, spilling into the next lane, not keeping up with traffic even 50 mph below the speed limit, wandering into the next lane never signalling -- all are on their cell phones, waving their hands about, not looking at the road. NO ONE can talk on a cell phone and pay proper attention to driving, and clearly they can't walk, either. Hang up the phone if you're moving.

[bearbehind]

No cell phones while moving at all

If the driver of the car would hang up the cell phone, he/she would notice whether there was a pedestrian in front of the car. 100% of cars weaving from one side of the lane to another, spilling into the next lane, not keeping up with traffic even 50 mph below the speed limit, wandering into the next lane never signalling -- all are on their cell phones, waving their hands about, not looking at the road. NO ONE can talk on a cell phone and pay proper attention to driving, and clearly they can't walk, either. Hang up the phone if you're moving.

[TreknologyNet]

Invisibility

What about the pedestrian who doesn't carry a cell phone? If you're going to rely on this sort of technology, doesn't that render this pedestrian invisible? Drivers and pedestrians alike should keep their eyes on the road.

[TreknologyNet]

Invisibility

What about the pedestrian who doesn't carry a cell phone? If you're going to rely on this sort of technology, doesn't that render this pedestrian invisible? Drivers and pedestrians alike should keep their eyes on the road.