In The News
Business News from Send2Press Newswire
Recent News Stories from PRnetwire >> News Article

Edited by Christopher Simmons, senior news editor

INVENTOR PATENTS DEVICE THAT WOULD SOLVE THE DEBACLE OVER CELL PHONE USE IN AUTOMOBILES

DOYLESTOWN, PA - October 1, 2002 /PRnetwire.com/ - No one will dispute the fact that the argument of banning the use of cell phones in automobiles is starting to become more and more heated as time goes by.

Several State legislators have enacted -- or are considering enacting -- state-wide prohibitions banning cell phone use by all drivers. To validate such bans, proponents of these measures have cited a 1997 study in the New England Journal of Medicine which concluded that talking on a cell phone while driving quadruples the risk of an accident.

While a debate has arisen over legislation banning cell phone use by all drivers, some lawmakers say there should be no debates about a more narrowly defined ban for school bus drivers.

A potential solution -- at least for the debate over banning cell phone use by school bus drivers -- is a device aptly named "Road Block," developed by J.P. Brennan, a Pennsylvania-based inventor. Mr Brennan was inspired to develop the device after witnessing a school bus -- full of children -- run a stop light. The bus driver ran the red light while on her cell phone.

"Road Block" renders a cell phone useless while the automobile is in DRIVE. The device is mounted behind the dashboard and once a bus or car is in DRIVE a disruptive signal jams the cell phone, enforcing the "no cell phone use while driving" law. In the case of an emergency, all the driver need do is pull over, park the car or school bus, and the device shuts off, allowing the call to be placed.

Mr. Brennan envisions the technology as a means of enforcing safe driving laws that are not always easy to enforce. "I'm very excited about 'Road Block'." He says. "Being a parent of children who get on a school bus every morning, inventing a device that would make their journey to school just a little bit safer means the world to me. I invented 'Road Block' for them, for my children."

Mr. Brennan is hoping that 'Road Block' will catch the attention of school transportation officials, fleet manufacturers, State legislators, and insurance companies that see the value of the technology he has developed. He has partnered with an electronics manufacturer to mass produce the device at a low cost and is hoping to see the device potentially become standard equipment on all school buses manufactured in the future.

MEDIA CONTACT: J. P. Brennan, Email: Jpb011466@aol.com

# # #

Source of news: J. P. Brennan