Cars use lights, bells and buzzers to remind drivers to fasten their seat belts as they start their engines.
p
It would seem natural, then, to offer motorists friendly, yet stern warnings about another bad habit: holding a cell phone while driving, whether for texting or talking.
p
Several software and gadget companies — many of them at the country’s biggest trade show for the wireless industry last week in Las Vegas — have sprung up to address that challenge. But creating an effective, widespread solution looks a lot harder than putting in reminders for seat belts.
p
Furthermore, we’re only just beginning to figure out what constitutes a dangerous distraction, and how best to curb it. Are handsfree conversations dangerous? What about dictating text messages to your phone? Does everyone need help staying away from the phone while driving, or just teens and employees?
p
Many states ban drivers from using cell phones without handsfree devices, but a recent insurance industry study found that such laws haven’t reduced crashes. It’s not clear why, but one reason might be that drivers flout the laws.
p
At least a dozen startups have produced phone applications designed to curb the temptation to use the phone while driving.
p
But these applications work only on some phones and have a hard time figuring out if the user is actually driving. Potentially important players — wireless carriers, cell phone makers, auto manufacturers and the federal government — have yet to step in, leaving the field to smaller companies that lack the clout to put services in widespread use.
p
And some of the tools might not even improve safety.
p
Technology without a clear vision for how it’s going to actually help drivers could end up doing more harm than good, said John Lee, professor of industrial and systems engineering at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
p
For instance, Drive Safely…