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Regulations, Guidelines & Enforcement

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 Papers, polls, Q&A items, and comments on this page are oriented to topics and issues associated with alternatives for controlling the design or use of in-vehicle technologies. Feel free to post comments on issues outlined below, or in response to papers, polls, and/or questions submitted to our expert panel. A moderator has been assigned to periodically synthesize comments, keep discussions focused and moving, emphasize key points, and offer additional insights into related issues.

DISCUSSION ISSUES/TOPICS

Regulations & Enforcement

  • Should there be restrictions on the conditions under which a driver can use a technology? Should such restrictions be controlled through the design of the device or regulations on driver behavior?
  • How effective are reckless driving laws in preventing crashes related to driver distraction?
  • Are there effective methods to enforce regulations on use?
Safety Principles and Industry Practices
  • Are existing principles and industry practices providing adequate controls (e.g., European Commission Statement of Principles, Japanese JAMA Guidelines, Proposed SAE 15 Second Rule)?
  • Is there a need for formal standards on the design or use of in-vehicle technologies? In what areas?
Research Needs
  • What are the important unanswered questions regarding regulations, guidelines, and enforcement? What knowledge gaps need to be filled in order to develop appropriate guidelines or regulations? How effective are these sorts of controls?

 

Content Available In Each Topic Area

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Regulations & Enforcement
             51comments   1   
Safety Principles and Industry Practices
            

  Development of Safety Principles for In-Vehicle Information and Communication Systems   5/31/00 1:11:58 PM

Authors:   Stevens, A. (Transportation Research Laboratory, Crowthrone Berkshire, U.K.) & Rai, G. (Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions, London, U.K.).

click to access PDF-format documentView Entire Paper

Abstract

This paper describes the development of safety principles for in-vehicle information and communication systems. From the early 1990s, the UK Department of Transport (DOT) recognised that the development of internationally agreed tests to limit the distraction potential of in-vehicle systems would take many years. They therefore initiated the development of recommendations that could be applied in the interim. The UK work resulted in a "Code" which was also taken up by the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT). Subsequently the European Commission (EC) sponsored the development of a set of principles that cover many of the same issues. Meanwhile, although some progress in research and international standards has taken place, there remains the issue of how to assess in-vehicle safety or even the extent to which a specific in-vehicle information system supports the safety and effectiveness principles of the EC. One approach to assessment, using a Checklist, is described in this paper. It allows experts to make a rapid and structured assessment of the key features of an in-vehicle system and highlights where specific driver distraction studies would be most beneficial.

  What revisions would NHTSA like to see made to SAE's so called "15 second rule" proposed recommended practice?   7/27/00 6:20:27 AM

  Driver distraction in the European statement of principles on in-vehicle HMI: a comment   7/28/00 12:38:32 PM

comments   Cellphone Companies, Liable???   8/1/00 8:08:08 PM

comments   RE: Cellphone Companies, Liable???    8/2/00 10:28:39 AM

comments   15-second rule ?   8/8/00 1:09:23 PM
Research Needs