In order to combat distracted driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation is pursuing approval on a bill that would enable it to order changes to smartphone navigation apps. The measure is included in the GROW AMERICA Act proposed by the Obama administration.
The Department of Transportation already issues a set of voluntary guidelines to auto manufacturers in order to regulate the built-in navigation systems common among many modern vehicles. The proposed bill would give the department tangible authority to regulate these systems, as well as smartphone navigation apps. The department wants these apps to be classified as "motor vehicle equipment," a category created to allow regulation of key fobs that can unlock or start a car by remote. Car manufacturers, who largely follow the existing navigation guidelines, are in favor of the bill. Imposing the same regulations on smartphone apps would level the playing field for built-in navigation systems.
"If you put restrictions on the built-in systems designed to be used while driving, it's going to encourage people to use hand-held devices that are not optimal for use by a driver," Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, told the New York Times. "We believe that if you're looking at a smaller screen, that's less effective than looking at a larger screen on the dashboard."
Technology companies on the other hand are fervently opposing the measure. Many companies believe that the law would be difficult, if not impossible, to enforce. Although Google Maps and Apple Maps are by far the most popular navigation apps, there are thousands of others available. Keeping track of so many programs would require resources the Department of Transportation likely doesn't have.
The department argues that it wouldn't involve itself in the development process of apps. It says the rule would be in place largely to allow officials to require developers to make changes to an app when a problem becomes apparent. Safety advocates already take issue with some existing apps, such as Waze. Waze encourages and rewards users for sending in updates about road conditions as well as construction and other hazards in the area. Although the app is designed to prevent entering this information while the device is in a moving vehicle, the user can simply press a button saying that a passenger is using the app to disable the protection. In contrast, the Department of Transportation guidelines for manufacturers state that any single action on the navigation system must not take more than two seconds.
The GROW AMERICA Act is still subject to congressional approval. However, most experts believe the bill will pass. If the Department of Transportation sticks to its plan to only step in when an app becomes a problem, most users will not be affected by the decision. As navigation apps and smartphone technology evolve, there's no telling how the department might respond.
