Over-Connected and Behind the Wheel: A Summit on Technological Solutions to Distracted Driving

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On Thursday, February 6, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV will host a daylong summit titled, “Over-Connected and Behind the Wheel: A Summit on Technological Solutions to Distracted Driving”. The meeting will explore how technology can be used to minimize distracted driving, which has become a major public safety concern in recent years. With the explosive growth of cellphones and smartphones, and the increasing levels of online connectivity available to people at all times, more drivers are tempted to stay connected in their cars.

The summit will consist of three roundtable discussions on the potential for technology to encourage the distractable driver to focus on driving. Rockefeller will lead the final roundtable of the day, at 2:45 p.m., on current and potential technology that can limit distractions and focus the driver on the road.

Agenda:

10:00 a.m. – “The State of Distracted Driving”: Committee staff will moderate a discussion on what we know about distracted driving, what government can do to  address the problem, and what stakeholders are doing today. Participants in this first roundtable will include representatives from the automobile, consumer  electronics, and wireless industries, as well as government agencies and safety groups.

  • Nathaniel Beuse

    Associate Administrator, Vehicle Safety Research

    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

  • Robert Molloy

    Deputy Director, Office of Highway Safety

    National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

  • Jacob Nelson

    Director, Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research

    AAA

  • Veronica O’Connell

    Vice President, Congressional Affairs

    Consumer Electronics Association

  • Michael J. Stanton

    President and Chief Executive Officer

    Association of Global Automakers

  • Robert Strassburger 

    Vice President, Vehicle Safety and Harmonization

    Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers

  • John Walls

    Vice President, Public Affairs

    CTIA – The Wireless Association

11:15 a.m. – “The State of Technology”: Committee staff will moderate a discussion on the development of technology to prevent distracted driving, technological solutions available in the market today, and steps that can be taken to make such technology more effective and readily available. Participants will include  representatives from the automobile, wireless, handset, and mobile software industries, as well as independent technology companies and safety groups.

  • Andrew Brenner

    Product Manager, Android for Automotive

    Google Inc.

  • Ken DiPrima

    Assistant Vice President, Product Development

    AT&T Mobility

  • John Godfrey

    Vice President, Communications Policy & Regulatory Affairs

    Samsung Electronics – North America HQ

  • Robert Guba

    Chief Executive Officer

    Cellcontrol

  • Timothy Powderly

    Director, Federal Government Affairs

    Apple Inc.

  • Wayne Powell

    Vice President, Electronic Systems

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

  • Michael J. Robinson

    Vice President, Sustainability & Global Regulatory Affairs

    General Motors Company

  • Ray Rothermel

    Counsel, Legal/Government Affairs

    Sprint Corporation

  • Jennifer Stockburger

    Director, Operations, Consumer Reports Auto Test Center

    Consumers Union

  • Tom Taylor

    Vice President, Advanced Strategies

    Verizon Telematics

  • David D. Teater

    Senior Director, Transportation Strategic Initiatives

    National Safety Council

  • Paul Zimmerman

    Chief Executive Officer

    Aegis Mobility

2:45 p.m. – “Where Do We Go From Here?”Chairman Rockefeller will lead the final roundtable discussion, which will move the conversation toward action – a  public challenge to all stakeholders, especially those in the room, to collaborate and  build more robust technological solutions to distracted driving. Participants in this  roundtable will include many of the same stakeholders from the two morning  roundtables. 

  • John Godfrey

    Vice President, Communications Policy & Regulatory Affairs

    Samsung Electronics – North America HQ

  • Timothy Powderly

    Director, Federal Government Affairs

    Apple Inc.

  • Wayne Powell

    Vice President, Electronic Systems

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

  • Michael J. Robinson

    Vice President, Sustainability & Global Regulatory Affairs

    General Motors Company

  • Ray Rothermel

    Counsel, Legal/Government Affairs

    Sprint Corporation

  • Nick Solaro

    Global Android Business Development

    Google Inc.

  • Jeff Stewart

    Director, Regulatory Global Public Policy

    AT&T

  • Tom Taylor

    Vice President, Advanced Strategies

    Verizon Telematics

  • David D. Teater

    Senior Director, Transportation Strategic Initiatives

    National Safety Council

Please note the summit will be webcast live via the Senate Commerce Committeewebsite. Refresh the Commerce Committee homepage 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time to automatically begin streaming the webcast.

Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service, including closed captioning service for the webcast summit, should contact Stephanie Gamache at 202-224-5511 at least three business days in advance of the summit date.

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