Tag Archives: distracted driving

Ford SYNC Reaches Major Milestone

In the past few years, cars have become more connected at a startling rate. New cars are expected to have voice-recognition, provide GPS navigation, and have entertainment systems that work with the driver’s smartphone or iPod.

One of the first popular car connectivity systems hit a major milestone this week when Ford sold the five-millionth car equipped with the Ford SYNC, a system they developed with Microsoft. The SYNC was first introduced back in 2007. Currently the SYNC system includes GPS navigation, 911 emergency assistance, internet connection, hands-free calling with audible text messages, and an entertainment center complete with eight-inch color touch screen, Bluetooth audio streaming, Audible, and HD Radio.

In a press release from Ford, Vice President of Ford Research and Innovation Paul Mascarenas praised the SYNC, stating, “SYNC has helped us evolve as an automaker, to think and act more like a technology company, with a new level of openness and access that has forever changed how we look at our business and respond to our customers. Ultimately, SYNC embodies what Ford is all about: going further to transform innovative ideas into products that are affordable, attainable, and valuable to millions of people.” He went on to praise Microsoft for their work on the SYNC, citing the system’s ability to upgrade with software updates as the primary reason for its success.

Congratulations to Ford and Microsoft on the success of the SYNC! We at the Approved Loan Store are excited to see what the future holds for car connectivity and “smart cars,” and we appreciate the role that Ford played in paving that future.

Are you looking to get into a new or used vehicle? Approved Loan Store can help! Whether if you are looking for the latest connected car or something a little less plugged in, we will help you find a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and be sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Nissan Divides Auto Enthusiasts Over New Steering System

Last month, Nissan held its annual Advanced Technology Briefing where they showed off the latest automotive technology that drivers can look forward to seeing soon. The two main attractions of the event were their Active Engine Braking and Autonomous Emergency Steering, and from the looks of it, these new systems could greatly improve driving safety and ease.

To put it simply, Active Engine Braking changes the way that people steer. A video released by Nissan explains that in a car with a traditional steering system, the car’s tires are controlled by a mechanical connection between the steering wheel and tires. To contrast, a car with Active Engine Braking converts steering input information from the steering wheel into electronic signals that turn the tires. Also, Active Engine Braking picks up information like rough terrain, a sloped road, or a cross-wind and automatically makes adjustments for the driver.

The Autonomous Emergency Steering works with the Active Engine Braking to prevent accidents caused by driver error. The system uses cameras in the car to detect any objects, people, or animals in its way and then map a route to avoid hitting any obstacles. It does not kick in unless absolutely necessary, so drivers still have plenty of time to steer clear, but the system could help a driver in a high-stress situation like avoiding a child that ran out into the street or a deer running onto the road.

Not everyone is happy about these new systems, though. Jalopnik’s headline read “The Amazing New Car Tech That Enables You To Drive Like A Moron,” and several commenters on Nissan’s YouTube video were disappointed with the changes. One said, “Goodbye steering feel,” and another accused Nissan of taking away the “joy of driving.” Some commenters came to Nissan’s defense and pointed out that while it might not be right for every driver or car, it would provide a smoother and safer ride for most drivers.

Readers, what do you think? Do you want Active Engine Braking and Autonomous Emergency Steering in your car? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

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The Paris Motor Show: What’s New and Shiny from BMW

The Paris Motor Show is coming up in a little over a week, and all the major car manufacturers are giving auto enthusiasts an early sneak peek at what they can expect to see from the show. Up until the show next week, we are going to bring you the latest news and announcements coming out of the Paris Motor Show.

BMW’s line-up for the Paris Motor Show is squarely focused on the future of the industry, specifically electric car and hybrid technology. Their headliner is the BMW Concept Active Tourer which consumes less than 2.5 liters of fuel for every 100 kilometers, or 0.66 gallon per 62 miles. They will also be showing off the BMW i3 Concept which is entirely electric drive and built with environmental sustainability in mind. Materials used in the car’s interior were chosen carefully including the eucalyptus wood for the instrument panel and the olive leaf treatment used on the leather seats.

BMW will be showing off more than just concept cars, though. The new BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, and 7 Series will all be premiering at the Paris Motor Show, and BMW’s new ConnectedDrive feature will also be on display. ConnectedDrive is a built-in three-dimensional navigational system and dictation service which allows drivers to write e-mails and text messages without their eyes ever leaving the road. The system is available for all BMW models.

While I’m sure the concept cars will be an interesting peek at what lies ahead, I am more interested in seeing how ConnectedDrive stacks up against other voice recognition/navigational systems. Does the voice recognition actually work, or will the first model have problems? I hope that BMW has not cut corners with the technology like other manufacturers have done in the past few years. We have covered the dangers of distracted driving, and if ConnectedDrive works the way it is intended, it could keep more drivers’ eyes off their phones and on the road.

To see more of the upcoming show, stay tuned to the Approved Loan Store and check out the event’s official site here. Also, get the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Crosswalk Pong Encourages Pedestrians Not to Jaywalk

Last month, an ad agency got bar patron’s attention with a “drunk mirror” which warned against the dangers of drunk driving in a very clever way. Earlier this month, the NHTSA introduced the idea of a “designated texter” to encourage drivers not to text or talk on the phone while driving. Continuing the trend of cleverly disguised public safety measures, a couple of German students came up with a great idea for preventing jaywalking.

Sandro Engel and Holger Michel wanted to get people engaged at the most unlikely of places, the crosswalk. They created a short video “StreetPong” demonstrating two people standing on opposite sides of a crosswalk and playing against each other in a pong-like video game. The idea is that while people are waiting for the light to change, they will be less likely to jaywalk if they can play pong against a real-life player across the street. Engel and Michel even added a fun detail to the game. The pong screen backdrop is actually a picture of a city street, so it is like the players are having an actual game of ping-pong across the street.

The game hasn’t actually been installed at the crosswalk since the video is only meant to be a demonstration of how this pong game could work. Engel and Michel created the effect in the video using a small green screen on the crosswalk pole. A lot of people already wish it was real, though. The video has been watched 614,000 times, received 737 likes on Vimeo, and was featured on Autoblog. They have clearly come up with an idea that people are latching onto, and I do wonder if we will start seeing less jaywalking and more pedestrians gaming at the crosswalk.

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Real-Life Superhero Wrecks Hummer to Save 4 Children

One of my favorite films of all time is The Dark Knight. While perusing the auto news headlines this week, I was reminded of a scene in the movie when Bruce Wayne wrecks his beautiful Lamborghini and puts his life in danger in order to save a man’s life. Recently, an eerily similar event happened in Alberta, Canada where a driver saved the lives of 4 minors from another driver who was driving erratically and talking on his cell phone.

Darrell Krushelnicki was having a normal day, driving his Hummer H3 and minding his own business, when he noticed 4 minors crossing the street together. The youngest was 3 years old, and the oldest was 16. Darrell also noticed another driver in a Pontiac G5 who was speeding along at 50 mph in a 20 mph zone, talking on his cell phone, and showing no signs of stopping at the crosswalk. He could have honked his horn, warned the kids to get out of the street, or done nothing at all, but instead, he cut in front of the Pontiac G5 and stopped it from running down the kids. Fortunately, neither Darrell nor the other driver was injured, but both cars sustained major damage.

This is how I imagined that it happened:

Like many other people, I am amazed by Darrell’s story. His bravery and willingness to sacrifice his Hummer to save these children’s lives is commendable. The local police are recommending Darrell for an award, and I hope he gets recognized for what he did. Not only does he deserve it, but it could lead to more discussions about the dangers of distracted driving.

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“Connected” Cars: Distraction or Asset?

Recently, activists and parents have been speaking up on the dangers of distracted driving, using PSAs and popular TV shows like Glee to warn drivers of all ages. If a study from market researcher ABI is to be believed, though, the battle against distracted driving is uphill, barefoot, and through torrential rain.

Distracted driving is the all-encompassing term which includes talking on the phone, texting, or surfing the internet while driving. The answer isn’t as simple as outlawing cell phone use in the car, though. New touch-screen technologies in vehicles could also be considered distractions, and ABI’s projections predict that more than 60 percent of cars will be “connected” by 2017. Never mind getting teen drivers off their phones, imagine disconnecting cars from new technology. All those anti-cell phone laws will be worthless when people have a myriad of distractions built into their cars.

Of course, there is another way to look at this trend. Some of these new technologies allow for cars to communicate with each other and avoid collisions, and many people see “connected” cars as a step towards self-driving vehicles. People won’t have to worry about being distracted drivers because in the future, they won’t be driving at all. Until then, some of these “distractions” have safeguards built in to keep the driver safe, such as Ford’s SYNC and MyFord Touch system with driver stress test. The system measures the driver’s vitals, and when they show signs of stress or the road conditions worsen, all outside distractions are lessened. Incoming texts and calls through Ford SYNC are disabled, and the driver can better focus on safe driving.

Readers, we want to know what you think! Are these new technologies an asset and a step towards a brighter driving future, or are they a distraction that will endanger other drivers on the road? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

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Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ford’s New Safety Feature: Driver Stress Test

Today’s automakers continually amaze me. It is a really exciting time for new car technology with everything from self-driving cars to safety features protecting both drivers and pedestrians alike. The latest development from Ford, however, is more about the comfort and mental well-being of the driver and putting them in the best mindset to be a safe driver.

Ford is currently testing out biometric stress detectors which measure the driver’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing rate. When a driver shows indications of stress such as a heightened heart rate or if they are in high-stress driving situations based on speed or road conditions, the car will activate a Do Not Disturb function. Incoming texts or cell phone calls through SYNC and MyFord Touch systems will be ignored so the driver can better focus on driving.

Now, I can’t speak as to how well the prototype system works, but I love the concept behind Ford’s new anti-distracted driving system. I think that if this system eventually makes it to the market, it will be very popular with parents of teen drivers. Everyone from politicians to parent groups are trying to find a way to keep drivers off their phones while they are on the road, but having a hands-free system that disables itself when the driver is going too fast or driving on less-than-optimal roads is a step in the right direction.

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New Car Device Signals End to Distracted Driving

As states are cracking down on texting while driving, a new hands-free system might signal the end to dangerous cell phone and driving habits.

The Nuance Dragon Drive! is not the first hands-free phone system for cars, but there is a reason why similar hands-free systems are not in every car. Consumers have found previous hands-free systems to be buggy and more of a hassle than a convenience. The reasons for these problems include companies cutting corners on production, using cheap microphones, and not making the systems user-friendly.

I haven’t had a chance to try out the Dragon Drive! yet, but I have watched the demonstration video that Nuance posted on YouTube. What I like about the Dragon Drive! is that it improves on the hands-free cell phone, but it also does so much more. Drivers can dictate text messages, choose music, listen to the news, search nearby restaurants, and get directions, all without taking their hands off the wheel. If it works in real life as well as it does in the video, I would be tempted to pick one up.

You can check out the demonstration video that Nuance released, included below:

In this week’s reader poll, we want to know what you think! Would you get Nuance’s Dragon Drive! for your car? Vote on our Facebook page here! Don’t forget that no matter what your credit situation, Approved Loan Store wants to help get you into a new or used vehicle. Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and make sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook and follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter to keep up with the latest news and trends from the auto industry!

Ford SYNC’s New Texting Feature: Safety Feature or Another Driver Distraction?

As concerns about texting while driving are on the rise, Ford SYNC is heading off concerns with a new upgrade which will keep driver’s eyes on the road and off their phones.

The Ford SYNC previously let drivers make calls, play music from iPods and other music devices, and access directions through voice-activated technology. There are also emergency features built in. SYNC will call 9-11 if the car is in an accident. Now, Ford has added more voice-activated controls for tablets, including texting. If prompted, the SYNC will even read back text messages to the driver.

The issue of “distracted driving” as it has been coined in the media is a contentious one. Even with these upgrades, the MyFord Touch technology and correspondingly the Ford SYNC have been under fire from consumer groups and the press for being difficult to use and prone to glitches. Critics of the Ford SYNC would argue that these upgrades and new features could be just as distracting as calling or texting while driving, if not more so. The driver is still dividing their attentions between driving and their call or text. Hands-free or not, these features are still a distraction.

Readers, we want to hear from you! Do you currently have any hands-free phone devices in your car, and do you think the Ford SYNC is a step forward or just another driving distraction? Leave a comment below, and head over to our Facebook page to vote in this week’s fan poll. If you’re looking to get into a new car, head over to our Approved Car Loan page today!

Image: winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net