'Internet Drivers' Are A Growing Danger - Call To Cull Browsing On The Move

Legislation, research and the press are united - texting in cars is dangerous. WeLoveAnyCar.com believes internet browsing will outpace texting and is calling for browsers to be disabled for drivers on the move.

 

Smartphones such as iPhone and Samsung Galaxy generate more internet traffic than desktops - allowing users to 'Facebook', email and browse other pages like dating sites on the move.

 

WeLoveAnyCar.com tracked use of their sites by people on the move and found a number using their site whilst moving quickly.

 

A spokesman for the biggest car review site in the UK said, "Like all companies with a sophisticated internet site, we can track usage where we have the user's permission. We found that a small number of users seemed to be moving very quickly. Whilst users could be on trains and passengers in cars we have to consider some users may be using their smartphone whilst driving."

 

WeLoveAnyCar.com is considering building in a safety feature that detects when a user is on the move and warns them of the dangers of browsing whilst driving. The system may even disable mobile access if they are traveling more than 10 mph, if technically possible.

 

Google, Facebook, Twitter - they all have the resources to make our roads safer.

 

The Manchester based car site is now calling for the largest Internet companies to follow suit and develop systems which, at the very least, asks 'internet drivers' to consider the dangers of updating their Facebook statuses or reading emails whilst in charge of a car.

 

The site's spokesman continued, "Google, Facebook, Twitter - they all have the resources to make our roads safer. Technology will always outpace legislation and we should develop new features to help drivers focus on the road ahead."

 

Restricted use of technology on the move is not new. Modern in-built SatNav systems disable many features if the car is in motion.

 

Brake, the road safety charity, urges divers to 'Drive Smart' and recommends that phones remain out of site, out of reach, in the car. Whilst that is the best advice, the adoption by internet companies of measures to restrict use can only help where drivers feel 'separation issues' from their phone whilst on the move.

 

WeLoveAnyCar.com, which has more car owner reviews than any other place on the internet, believes the feature should become an industry standard and that will require the industry leaders and ISPs to agree on a user friendly way to enable greater car safety, whilst ensuring consumers have the ultimate choice.

 

Image source: Appolicious

Young Lovers Forced into Cars by Housing Shortage

Adults in their 20s, forced to live at home with their parents, have to find places to meet and their favourite location is often their car.

 

This insight came as a by-product of research conducted by WeLoveAnyCar.com for the National Car Awards published 19th August 2013. A spokesman said, "Detailed analysis of comments made in our 58,000 car reviews considered by the Awards survey revealed that access to cars by '20 somethings' for somewhere to meet up privately is becoming even more important now that more adults live with their parents."

 

Car reviews submitted by drivers to WeLoveAnyCar.com give an in-depth insight into UK motorists' strong and positive thoughts about their car. In the 62,693 Car Reviews so far submitted to Britain's largest car review site, 'love' is mentioned 6,339 times, 'fun' in 1,591 occasions and even 'sex' or 'sexy' in 289 car reviews.

 

According to The Telegraph article by Ed Cumming on 19th August 2013, the number of Britons aged between 20 and 34 living at home has increased by 28 per cent, to 3.2  million. Agony columns feature many stories of adults in their 20s not being allowed to bring anyone home by their parents, who set the house rules.

 

Young adults crave privacy to develop their relationships. Their car is the one place where they can control the situation and set the pace. In a study published by Bochum University, Germany in March 2009; The Car Use of Young Adults, of 2612 adults in their 20s, the car was thought to be a major part of a young person's identity and symbol of their independence - and a means to socialise.

 

In the Aviva publication; Family Car Report 2012, it was noted there were "swelling ranks of cars on family driveways." There is evidence that, whilst the young cannot borrow money for a house, many make car purchase a priority.

 

This week, several lenders launched their 'help to buy' mortgage products in the UK. This may reverse the trend of '20 somethings' living with their parents and able to park their car outside their own house and come in from the cold.