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Driver Device Interface Working Group and Innovating Safety Campaign Highlighted at Senate Commerce Summit


don't text and drive

ARLINGTON, VA--Feb. 6, 2014: Tomorrow, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will host a summit on how technology can be used to minimize distracted driving. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) will contribute to a panel discussion on “The State of Distracted Driving.” The panel will examine what government and industry stakeholders are currently doing to address driver safety. In advance of Thursday’s summit, CEA released the following statement from Veronica O’Connell, CEA’s vice president of Congressional Affairs:

“We believe that safety is paramount in a moving vehicle. CEA is committed to supporting and promoting technological innovation that empowers consumers to stay focused behind the wheel.”

“The Consumer Electronics Association appreciates Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller’s (D-WV) desire to explore the pressing public safety issue of distracted driving and thanks the committee for inviting us to participate in tomorrow’s summit.

“We believe that safety is paramount in a moving vehicle. CEA is committed to supporting and promoting technological innovation that empowers consumers to stay focused behind the wheel.

“On the panel, CEA will discuss our recently launched Innovating Safety public education campaign, which features new and existing technological advances that enable safer driving. We will also detail the work our association is doing as part of our Driver Device Interface Working Group, created to develop best practices for designing products that help maximize the driver's ability to safely use consumer technologies in the car.”

The Innovating Safety campaign, which CEA launched in late 2013, focuses on educating consumers on the products and applications designed, manufactured and sold by CEA members that encourage safer driving. The campaign was highlighted last month at the 2014 International CESŪ and will continue to build momentum throughout the year.

The Driver Device Interface Working Group was established by CEA last June and brings together the largest number of industry and government stakeholders focused on this important issue. The working group is collaborating to develop personal electronic device recommendations for safe user experiences based on general principles similar to those upon which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Phase I Guidelines are based. These guidelines, issued in April, 2013, encourage automobile manufacturers to limit the distraction risk connected to devices built into their vehicles, such as communications, entertainment and navigation devices.