Towards Safer Texting While Driving Through Stop Time Prediction Hongyu Li\, Luyang Liu\, Cagdas Karatas\, Jian Liux, Marco Gruteser\ Yingying Chenx, Yan Wang∗, Richard P. Martin\, Jie Yang \WINLAB, Rutgers University, North Brunswick, NJ, USA \{hongyuli, luyang, cagdas, gruteser, rmartin}@winlab.rutgers.edu xStevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, USA x{jliu28, yingying.chen}@stevens.edu ∗Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA ∗
[email protected] Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
[email protected] ABSTRACT 1. INTRODUCTION Driver distraction due to in-vehicle device use is an increas- Distractions due to frequent interruptions from mobile de- ing concern and has led to national attention. We ask whether vices are an increasing concern [21]. This concern is most it is not more effective to channel the drivers' device and prominent where serious safety risks arise|for example when information system use into safer periods, rather than at- driving cars, handling construction equipment, or operating tempt a complete prohibition of mobile device use. This trains. In the United States, studies estimate that phone paper aims to start the discussion by examining the feasibil- distractions contribute to 445 fatalities annually [20]. For ity of automatically identifying safer periods for operating this reason, laws in many states and countries do not allow mobile devices. We propose a movement-based architecture handhold phone usage or texting while driving. design to identify relatively safe periods, estimate the dura- While these laws generally appear sensible, technology tion and safety level of each period, and delay notifications evolves quickly, which raises many questions about their until a safer period arrives.