Ford Makes the Distracted Driving Situation Worse

Question: If it is illegal to have a television or DVD screen within the sight of a person who is driving, how can it be even remotely acceptable to put a fully-fledged, touch-screen computer within a driver's view and reach?

According to a press release from Ford, today: "Ford, California Custom Sport Trucks, Stargate Mobile and Microsoft Corporation developed the “General Contractor” F-250 Super Duty to showcase the ultimate mobile office environment.

"The Ford mobile office system... features a rugged but lightweight, in-truck computer running Windows XP Professional with full Microsoft Office capabilities, plus navigation with GPS, broadband internet access, printing, order submission and payment processing capability....

"The computer is... mounted on the transmission tunnel within easy reach of the driver. Once the computer is securely mounted in its vehicle cradle, it is powered by the truck’s battery and is directly connected to optional equipment including GPS antenna, [and a] printer...

"In addition, the mobile computer is always online via a broadband wireless cellular card, giving the driver full access to the internet using Microsoft Office Professional capabilities, including Outlook for email, Streets and Trips 2006 for real-time navigation, and Internet Explorer for web browsing...."

"...a rugged lightweight touch-screen 'slate' model mounted on the transmission tunnel within easy reach of the driver..."

Get out the body bags and -- hopefully sooner rather than later -- the lawsuits.

Reporting on road safety news every day of the year does tend to make one think there is nothing left that could shock. But this does; it is outrageous!

How many drivers with this system will try to use it on the move? It is, after all "mounted on the transmission tunnel within easy reach of the driver..." (Ford's own words.)

Try convincing me that the homicidal dimwit that dreamt up this idea actually has a university degree. What's that old saying about educated idiots?

There is not one word about safety in the entire press release, and the fact that the computer is equipped for 'real-time navigation' shows that no form of disabler will prevent its full use while on the move.

Distracted driving is a huge killer on the roads, but it would appear yet again that some companies pay scant regard to mere human lives when doing so will interfere with profits.

Source: 'FORD TRUCK ‘MOBILE OFFICE’ ALLOWS BUSINESS ON THE GO' -- issued by Ford on October 31, 2005.