Samsung, in conjunction with the advertising agency, Leo Burnet, and an Italian moto-crosser, has come up with a smart screen for your bike or scooter that accesses smartphone messages through a connected app: displaying voice calls, social messages, emails etc., while riders are on the move.

When a message flashes onto the screen you can choose to pull over and deal with it, or set the device so that it sends an "I'm driving" message automatically. Among young motorists in Italy it is reckoned that smartphone use contributes to 25% of crashes, and the designers of this piece of kit are putting forward the idea that this will be a safety feature.

Wrong. Human behaviour, which is now linked inextricably to instant messaging and a "must see it now or I'm missing out" culture, will almost certainly result in two-wheel riders trying to read text messages or emails while on the move. How long before attempting to text while riding shows up as cause crash stats? (One time in Sorrento, Italy, I witnessed a bloke on a scooter cornering while talking on a mobile. The coolest dude, or a dangerous, inconsiderate idiot?).  

With two big corporates introducing and promoting this, will motorcycle manufacturers such as device-happy BMW feel 'compelled' to include yet another distraction?

What do you think about this new app? Send your comment to [email protected].

29/03/16          No

29/03/16          These should be banned immediately.

29/03/16         More distraction, that's all it is. Eyes on the road not on some screen. Will never catch on, just like the Beatles