Julio Ceja, a California man, has sued Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) over its “lockout” feature. The lawsuit, which is now before a Los Angeles state court, claims that Apple has failed to provide a feature that would prevent people from using their iPhones while driving. In fact, Ceja points out that he was rear-ended by a texting driver. Apparently, further probing into the lawsuit reveals that Apple has possessed a technology that would lock a driver out of texting but it has chosen not to use it.
Texting and driving has become a bigger menace than impaired driving
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1.5 million people text and drive at any given moment. These sentiments are echoed by the California Highway Patrol and the Federal Highway Administration, which claims that 52,000 car accidents in California are as a result of using smartphones while driving. This is more risky than driving while under the influence of alcohol.
In agreement to lock-out devices, Jonathan Michaels MLG Automotive Law founding member says, “The relationship consumers have with their phones is just too great, and the ability to slide under the eye of the law is just too easy. Embedding lock-out devices is the only solution.”
Apple fears losing market share to other phone-makers
Apple’s failure to activate the lock-out technology it has possessed since 2008 may have been intentional. Given the prevailing competition, the tech giant is in fear of losing its business to other phone-makers who are not limiting their consumers. However, the success of the suit would imply that all iPhones in California be installed with a lock-out feature.
This is not the first time that Apple is battling the law. It is also involved in another lawsuit with the parents of a 5-year-old girl killed by a driver using FaceTime. It now remains to be seen what measures the law will take against Apple. In the meantime, Apple’s stock closed at $119.99, a fall of $0.01 or 0.01%.