---

Short-Term Solutions to Driver Distraction at SAE World Congress

1 January 2000

SAE Panel to Discuss Short-Term Solutions to Driver Distraction at SAE World Congress

    WARRENDALE, Pa. - "Numerous public discussions have recently been held on 
driver distraction resulting from use of cell phones and other electronic devices 
in moving vehicles," said 2001 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World 
Congress Panel Organizer Mark Cummings-Hill of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems.  
"Our panel will address near-term solutions to minimizing distraction."

    The panel, titled "Automotive Telematics & User Interface" will meet at
9 a.m., Monday, March 5, Room D3-19, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

    "We will be addressing the future of automotive telematics technology and
the theoretical/psychological constructs that surround driver distraction,"
said Cummings-Hill.  "What has been lacking is a discussion of tools and
techniques that can be immediately applied to telematics design to mitigate
the effects of distraction."

    Many drivers enjoy the convenience of cell phones, e-mail pagers and
navigational programs, but without proper training, these technologies can be
hazardous to their safety.

    According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between
25 percent and 52 percent of all car accidents are caused by driver
distraction -- diversions often caused by information-age technologies.

    "Automakers are allowing drivers to access vast amounts of information
from their vehicles to be used while driving," said Barry H. Kantowitz,
Director, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute and SAE
panelist.  "However, the average driver does not have the training to safely
process all the information while in-route.  The question is, `At what point
does the amount of internal and external information exceed human capacity to
process the data while safely operating their vehicle?'"

    "There is no real history of extended driver training in the U.S. -- you
get your driver's license and you're set for life.  Airplane pilots must
complete rigorous training to receive their flight license.  Automakers are
relying on consumers to use in-vehicle technologies safely and that's a big
assumption."

    SAE World Congress, the world's largest showcase of automotive engineering
technologies, attracts attendees from more than 50 countries.  To attend, call 
1-877-SAE-CONG (723-2664); outside the U.S. and Canada, call 1-724-772-4027.