Nine major automobile manufacturers were contacted in April 2010 with a request to provide their
“informed opinion regarding the feasibility and usefulness of the planned system as an example of
what production vehicles might provide in the future.” The request document described the project
background, project objectives, and the planned system. The document listed the four questions:
1. Do you consider the general concept of a vehicle-based system that recognizes a teen driver
and provides driver feedback/vehicle performance adaptation to be a valuable idea? If no,
why not?
2. Are there aspects of the system we have described that you see as impractical? We would like
your thoughts on the practicality of each subsystem, as well as the overall integrated system.
Please respond for each item below, and if you feel something is impractical, indicate why.
• Teen driver identification subsystem
• Seat belt detection and enhanced reminder subsystem
• Passenger presence subsystem
• Speed monitoring and feedback subsystem
• Excessive maneuver subsystem
• Cell phone use detection and mitigation subsystem
• Driving context subsystem
• Total (integrated) system
3. Are there additional functions that you would like to see included in a prototype safer teen
car?
4. Do you feel there would be good consumer interest and acceptance in this sort of vehicle
feature? Can you suggest anything to improve consumer acceptance?
The request acknowledged that there may be proprietary concerns or other considerations that limit
responses to some items and that the researchers appreciate whatever opinion and insight the
respondent was able to provide. It was also indicated that there would be no attribution of individual
comments. Reviewer opinions were to be integrated and synthesized for reporting.
Responses were received from seven of the nine companies contacted. One company replied to
indicate that it would not provide a response and another did not respond at all. Of the seven
13
companies that responded, the replies ranged from extensive commentary and responses to each
question to more general comments and response to only some selected items.
In synthesizing the responses, the comments were paraphrased and any references to the company
were deleted. No attribution of comments to individuals or companies is provided. It should also be
noted that some respondents made clear that the response reflected their individual opinions and did
not represent any formal position of the company. The synthesized responses to each question
follow.