Hyundai Patents Tech That Will Prevent Drivers From Using Phone While Driving

The advent of technology has lead to the rising concern about its translation into on-road risks. To combat this threat, and to further the cause of on-road safety, several manufacturers have been experimenting with methods to tone down that threat. There's Chevrolet's 'Teen Driver' feature, and GM's experiment with head and eye tracking technology to name a few.

Now Korean carmaker Hyundai has come up with a seemingly simple solution that disables the phones. The company's tech specifically "limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user." Variables, like the car's speed, allow the system to control smartphone functions that are safe to use in the given situation. Another example of its capacity as a safety measure will be disabling the texting function of mobile devices within and around the perimeter of the driver's seat.

The technology employs antennas around the vehicle and monitors cellular signals. Upon detection, the system then judiciously decides what features to allow on the device. With that being said, the fact remains that it will require a specific program to be run on the user's phone. And even though this technology presents a myriad of interesting options to enhance road safety, not a lot can be said about it till it takes a more feasible form.