[Parm]

MODS PLEASE MOVE THE THREAD TO THE CORRECT SECTION, IF IT DOESNT BELONG HERE!

Dubai: Motorists may soon be required to install hands-free mobile phone kits in their vehicles as part of the campaign to reduce road accidents related to the use of cell phones while driving.

"We may resort to strict rules with heavier fines if drivers continue to use phones without hands-free kits in violation of the traffic laws," said Sultan Al Marzouqi, Director of the Licensing Department at the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). He added the RTA would consider the proposal to make hands-free kits mandatory in the car at the time of registration.

Also, he said insurance companies would be asked to give incentives or discounts to car owners with hands-free devices in their cars.

Al Marzouqi spoke to reporters yesterday at a press conference at the Dubai Press Club where a 12-month road safety campaign was launched.
M.P. Sharman, president of Nokia Techmart, and Chris Braam, vice-president for sales, Nokia Middle East and Africa, were also present.

The RTA has partnered with Nokia for the awareness campaign to encourage drivers to follow safety standards. Al Marzouqi said that UAE laws prohibit drivers from using mobile phones without hands-free devices while driving. Offenders stand to be fined Dh200 and given four black points. He said authorities are not strict in implementing the law. However, he noted an increase in the number of offenders fined for violating the regulation.

The police have also reported a 25 per cent reduction in the number of people killed on Dubai roads.

Nonetheless, Al Marzouqi is battling for stricter penalties as many drivers continue to violate the law, putting the lives of other road users at risk.
Al Marzouqi noted that another common and very dangerous use of a mobile phone by young and inexperienced drivers is to read or write text messages while driving. "This practice is most dangerous because they are driving with only one hand on the steering wheel and their attention and eyes are not on the road," he said.

Attention grabber

Nokia Techmart's Braam said that using mobile phones and other devices that take a driver's attention away from the road reduce the driver's ability to manoeuvre the vehicle.

He cited studies that show that having a phone conversation while driving can cause a significant distraction to the driver. "This collaboration sets an example of how regulatory figures and service providers can work hand in hand to accomplish results," he said.

Safety measures

• Use a phone holder to secure the phone in the car and be sure the placement of the phone holder does not obscure the driver's view of the road.
• Set up the phone in the car before you start driving.
• Use a voice-activated phone system.
• Delay phone conversations when driving or have only short, casual phone conversations while driving.
• Stop the vehicle for complex or emotional phone conversations.
• Never play games on a mobile phone or read or send text messages while driving.
• Never use a mobile phone without a hands free kit while driving.

Have your say
Do you think this will help reduce the number of road accidents? Will you use a hands free phone kit? What more can be done to ensure road safety? Tell us what you think?

gulfnews : Plan studied to make car phone kits compulsory

i have a blue tooth enabled Kenwood head unit replacing the standard OEM fittment. Safety Saves!

[click]

I use a BURY mobile car kit, I got from a national dealer in Mumbai. It is really simple and is connected to your stereo system. When I receive calls, I can speak to the small and power ful mic installed near my visor and hear crystal clear from my music system. It even reads my emails to me. If you want the contact info for the dealer please pm me. I dont want to sound as i am promoting anyone.

But I agree, these kind of kits are life savers. Every one with cars should get them.

[sgiitk]

Excellent idea - much better than our silly rule no talking on mobiles. I think there is some archaic rule about radios as well.

[ghodlur]

To me talking on mobiles while driving is a big No whatever the means available may be. There is enough evidence that even a momentary lapse of concentration can have disastrous results. I prefer to pull to the side if I hear the phone ring and talk only if I am expecting an urgent call.

[jaguar.runs]

Putting rules in place and implementing it is a different matter. People might even have it in their cars and can choose not to use it. I have seen even police guys driving around in Dubai with mobile phones glued to their ears. Most common offences you will see on Dubai roads would be talking on mobiles, no seat belts and the worse one - kids in the front seat, sometimes even in the lap of the driver!

It's a matter of awarness, not rules.

[hrishig]

(Don't know if this is correct thread to put this question or should I start a new theread ?)

Today in metro cities

1) There are majority of cars who are driven by single person
2) So whenever the car goes out , the person goes along with his mobile
3) Now if the mobile is a decent one( Say above 20k- 25k) touch phone , I don't see why it can't be used as a head unit for the car system

Now today you can do that , but I am talking about a system where there is only amplifier in the system , and there is a dedicated doc which can hold the phone ( in place of head unit)

The iphone / SG II can be excellent candidate for this .


Do any solution like this exists today? If yes can some body point at this?

[Ragul]

There have been conclusive studies that show that even hands-free kits are unsafe, as he human mind cannot multi-task without endangering safety.

This move legitimises an act that is potentially dangerous and life threatening to road users. People will start using hands-free at high speed without caution causing serious accidents - where earlier a sense of caution or guilt would make them slow down when talking hands free.


--Ragul