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Car keys become mobile phone jammers

Shuts teens up
Mon Dec 15 2008, 10:56

BOFFINS FROM UTAH have come up with a car key that effectively jams mobile phones when it is in the ignition.

The Key2SafeDriving is mostly aimed at teenagers who can't stop themselves chatting on mobile phones or sending their mates SMS messages even while they are smashing into the back of other drivers.

The gizmo relies on Bluetooth technology which wirelessly connects the keys to phones. When you turn on the engine you have to slide the key out or push a button to release it.

This sends a message to the mobile and places it in 'driving mode' and puts a 'stop' sign on the phone's display screen.

If anyone rings or texts the messages are automatically answered with a message saying, 'I am driving now. I will call you later when I arrive at the destination safely'.

We would have thought that a smart kid would have just disabled the Bluetooth function on their mobile phone before starting the car... but that's just us. µ

L'Inq
Fox News

 

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Comments
Legal driving age

For the commenters above, im not sure what the legal age to drive is in your country. In the UK the legal age to drive is 18. Its also my opinion that anyone younger wouldn't be mature enough to drive anyway, let alone drive while using a mobile. Oh yeah, the UK already has a law that bans using a mobile/cell phone at the wheel. Im not sure exactly what the maximum penalty is, but I think its involves more that just a fine.

posted by : Simon, 19 January 2009 Complain about this comment
It's for parents to fit in their teenager's cars.

so that the parents can have more "peace of mind".

Perhaps paying for advanced driving lessons would be a better way to spend the money?

Or they could just by the kid an earpiece.

HTC Touch HD has an "busy-text" feature, where the phone will auto text back the person who is calling you with a message like "I'm busy, will call you asap". HTC slipped up by making the message require the user pressing a tiny part of the touchscreen with the word Send on it. So it's not really auto. Shame.

posted by : interested_party, 16 December 2008 Complain about this comment
Re: Common sense

Ted: Do we really need to have laws enforcing common sense?

If it were so common, and people followed it, we wouldn't need laws.

I'd rather see a law banning using phones while driving, and then this "key" can be used to help people not get fined for it. I really get sick of seeing morons on phones slowing up traffic, causing accidents, swirving around in their lanes, and other problems. It's almost like the phone retards their brains, which really it does since it distracts them from their far more important task: driving.

I almost find it a shame that this device won't EMP-fry their phone.

posted by : BB, 15 December 2008 Complain about this comment
Really smart kids...

Would uninstall the blocking software from their mobiles. Or just buy another mobile... This is so stupid.

posted by : mycelo, 15 December 2008 Complain about this comment
Not Jammimg

This is not jamming, this is simply an answer machine. True jamming is strictly (?) forbidden by FCC regs and will bring them down on you in short order if you do jam and get reported.

posted by : Doug Glass, 15 December 2008 Complain about this comment
I must read before commenting

To address my own post (after reading the link) - this is a subscription service only; it doesn't indiscriminately block mobiles.

posted by : Steve, 15 December 2008 Complain about this comment
passengers

What about their passengers? Obviously they needn't be prevented from taking calls/txts. I don't think there is a way to differentiate a passenger’s mobile from the driver's. Poop goes that idea

posted by : Steve, 15 December 2008 Complain about this comment
Smart kids...

"We would have thought that a smart kid would have just disabled the Bluetooth function on their mobile phone before starting the car"

A smart kid wouldn't need to disable the phone. A smart kid simply wouldn't use the phone while driving.

I read this article just after seeing my local news report about someone trying to make a law banning texting while driving by teens. Do we really need to have laws enforcing common sense?

posted by : Ted, 15 December 2008 Complain about this comment
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