Peggy Smedley Show

Jesse Hoggard, vice president of marketing, Cellcontrol, says since distracted driving is so common, it has not been vilified as much as other dangerous acts behind the wheel. He also talks how the Cellcontrol app locks applications once a driver is in motion, reconditioning the driver to fix their problem and establish better habits for the future.

Alex Haro, co-founder and president, Life360, talks about how Life360 extended its reach from giving families peace of mind during natural disasters to peace of mind every time a loved one is behind the wheel. He discusses how the app can notify family members when someone is driving and even aggregates a driving report, letting users know if they are hard braking, accelerating rapidly, or using t...

Peggy says although some progress has been made, there needs to be a shift in public acceptance and opinion similar to that of drunk driving and driving without a seatbelt. She explains what distractions can weigh on a driver's cognitive load and advocates that harsher punishments must be made in order to save lives.

Peggy talks about a new survey revealing that many people believe autonomous vehicles will stop distracted driving once and for all. But what will they do once the car takes the wheel? While some respondents said they will use that time for work, relaxation, entertainment, and even romantic purposes, Peggy says they still need to be alert and prepared for possible disengagement.

Deborah Trombley, senior program manager, Transportation Initiatives, National Safety Council Distracted Driving Program, shares her thoughts on startling research that shows a rise in roadway deaths and says the role of distracted driving is understated. She says we live in a culture that embraces and encourages multitasking, but urges that individuals and enterprises take a step back so people c...

Mike Kellenyi, founder, People Against Distracted Driving, talks turning tragedy into a force that is saving lives of distracted driving through educational programs across the country. He discusses how law enforcement is more capable of reporting distracted driving in accidents, and explains why targeting kids on the dangers of the distracted driving will engrain better habits behind the wheel in...

Peggy gives listeners the hard facts on how the number of motor vehicle deaths has hit an all-time high, and how distracted driving is a leading factor in that alarming trend. She looks at research suggesting that distracted drivers display longer reaction times and explains how hands-free devices can still pull driver focus away from the road.

Peggy ends the show by talking about how enterprises are developing new ways to keep employees safe on the road through telematics data. She looks at how businesses are using video monitoring to assess behavior behind the wheel and establish new ways to coach drivers.

Joel Feldman, president of Casey Feldman Foundation and founder of EndDD.org, End Distracted Driving, shares a personal connection to his crusade against distracted driving and says enforcement, legislation, technology, and education must be elevated to combat the rising number of accidents. He says although parents are setting a bad example for kids when it comes to texting and driving, he believ...

Dan Ronan, vice president of strategic communications, Intelligent Transportation Society of America, explains how ITS America is linking together academics, business, and research to help cities and infrastructure approach new options for handling distracted driving. He further discusses a new roadmap for intelligent transportation that looks at core issues cities and even the government may be f...

Peggy starts off distracted-driving month by setting the scene and asking how would you react to being pulled over for driving while on a mobile device? She then discusses how places around the world are using tactics like undercover cars, dump trucks, and even hearses to catch distracted drivers to further educate about the dangers.

Peggy Smedley interviews Rowan Trollope, Cisco Systems Inc., on why the Internet is in desperate need of an upgrade to handle IoT and all the security that must come along with it. 

Rowan Trollope, senior vice president and general manager, IoT and applications, Cisco Systems Inc., says the Internet we have built must evolve into something greater in order to fully handle the IoT. He predicts that without simplicity and adequate security protocols or standards in place during implementation, it may be hard to pinpoint decisions made between people and "things."

Tony Nicoletti, VP, business development & strategy, DPL Telematics, explains how the ability to link IoT tracking devices with engine data has given a boom to telematics companies when it comes to improving theft protection, idle time, warranties, as well as meeting better traffic and environmental regulations. He says the implementation phase is more important than some companies may think, as t...

Peggy begins the show with a discussion on how several major college campuses are proving to be an exciting testing ground for smart-city solutions. She says since the environment combines education, research, and innovation that could lead to safer and well-managed schools, and it offers a better selling point for students and parents when considering schools.

Peggy talks about the emergence of high-speed railway projects around the globe, and says that although they present great potential, many of them are faced by social, political, and financial roadblocks. She says a compromise must be made to move funding forward for these initiatives, as they aim to save energy and offer new alternatives when it comes to meeting the demands of fuel costs, custome...

Joe Colistra, associate professor, School of Architecture, Design & Planning, University of Kansas, gives his predictions on how big data is set to emerge as a new natural resource to help develop smart homes and smart cities to deal with unlimited bandwidth. He discusses how biometric sensors embedded in the walls and floors of homes will open up new avenues for healthcare and predicting what pat...

Kyle Hamer, vice president of marketing, On Center Software, explains how IoT (Internet of Things) solutions are enabling those in the construction industry to manage information overload so they can find the data that they need to use. He talks about how estimators are using platforms to manage key information resulting in more accurate project timelines and costs.

Peggy looks at how major cities are turning toward smart-street lights to help save millions on energy, yet maintaining safety and comfort for the public. She says that with the ability to connect to mobile networks and connected devices, smart street lights can also function as digital signage, surveillance, chargers, environmental monitors, and much more.

Peggy looks at how growing populations are pushing leaders in major cities to rethink their approach to smarter infrastructure, in order to connect roads, bridges, utilities, manufacturing, and so much more. She says many one-off solutions cannot work with the rest of infrastructure, and suggests that communication will be the biggest hurdle for leaders if they want to make better decisions that k...

Jerry Ullman, senior research engineer and regents fellow, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, discusses apprehensions towards autonomous vehicles and suggests that more work must be done in order for them to effectively navigate through construction work zone scenarios. He says as cars become more intelligent, they may soon be able to share information in the cloud with manufacturers to monitor p...

Catherine Kniker, chief revenue officer, PTC, talks about the constant development of the popular ThingWorx platform and says it is enabling users to keep one foot in the physical world and one in digital world. She explains how the IoT is being used to unlock hidden value in simple and complex data systems, and predicts that this year many companies may take the leap from using pilot systems to f...

Peggy talks about the growing innovations in connected healthcare like remote monitoring and virtual visits, and says that infrastructure must adapt in order to bring these capabilities and effectively transfer patient data to and from remote areas in the world. She also says the increased reliance on biosensors will have less to do with diagnosing and treating patients, but more to do with being...

Peggy takes a look at the Public Policy Roadmap and how the IoT will be used to tackle new transportation and infrastructure projects set forth by the new administration. She says as major metropolitan cities become more tech driven, construction professional must be prepared and educated in the newest connect solutions set to rebuild America.

Dale Beard, CEO, Intelliwave Technologies, talks about how sensor technology is being used to locate lost or misplaced materials and equipment, which can cause major delays in commercial and residential projects. He says the acceptance and commercialization of sensors has drastically altered the way materials are managed along with enhancing uptime, refocusing management, cutting order costs, and...