GPS distractions CBC Marketplace feature

Question? Is this "distracted driving" only going to happen on January 15th.. or will there be "distracted driving" on other dates too?

Nuvi1300WTGPS

Nuvi1300WTGPS@Gmail.com

NPR had an interesting piece on "Talk of the Nation" yesterday. The primary focus is on automobile enabled WiFi, but some of the discussion was about cell phone and GPS use. If you are interested, you can listen here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1224500...

I saw the program and they made a few good points. Trying to do major route changes whilst driving is not the smartest thing to do. That is why I have taught my co pilot (wife) how to use the Nuvi so that she can do any searches or route alterations whilst I am driving.
Watch out for a ban on GPS use (like cellphone use)when driving.

I was also one of those people, but I resist the urge as much as possible. I drive a shuttle for a car dealership and if I have to enter and address, I wait until I'm stopped at a redlight or parked. It may take 2 or 3 redlights sometimes, but I try to remember that it would be worse if i was using a map.

The Ontario Distracted Driving Law is always in the back of my mind.

It also helps driving 300-400 km a day a few days a week to let you see the results of the idiots out there texting etc. I followed a lady on Friday with her rearview mirror turned so she could see to put on her mascara. Where are the cops when you want one?

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/Marketplace/ID=1387092289

But, like everything I see, the stats are unattributed, the demonstrations overdone and more. The subjects they use for the demonstrations seem to be unfamiliar with their equipment (example: "find the airport" and the subject starts typing the name, rather than simply clicking the POI category).

I don't often start programming an address while in motion. I usually have some idea of where I'm headed before I start rolling.

However some people shouldn't be allowed to get into cars with radios OR passenger seats.

I wonder if the issue of public safety on the roadways will begin to fall along a political divide. Here, in the States it appears that the Republican party may start leaning towards a more libertarian stance in response to populist sentiment. And, at least one Democrat in Washington state after barely defeating a Republican challenger, has proposed reducing red light fines to mitigate potential voter backlash against the perception of a hidden tax.

If you read through the Seattle Times story, you'll see the issue falling along that divide.

How tough would it be for the GPSr manufacturers to change the units so that routes can't be changed while the vehicle is in motion? If they did so, would you try to find another unit that allowed this?

Sure, once we perfect the brain-computer interface, we can change things on the fly without your eyes leaving the road in front.

...GPS units should have voice control for the menu. I know that is difficult to pull off and expensive, but it would be the only acceptable way to control the unit and keep your eyes on the road.

I never make changes while I'm driving when I'm using my nuvi 260W. I pull over if I need to do it, which is rare, because I usually have a destination before I depart. That said, before I had the nuvi, I used my laptop (seat-belted to the passenger seat) and loved the fact that I could voice control the software and got voice replies. No need to look at the display at all.

["change the units so that routes can't be changed while the vehicle is in motion"]

If that occurred, the passenger couldn't operate the unit.

Nuvi 8x5 has this feature, is reasonably priced and works quite well.

This could be a sore point but what about parents constantly talking to the kids in the back seat or turning there head side ways to talk to the front seat passenger. I see this at least a dozen times a day and they are more distracted than most "device" users.Lets face it too many people treat driving as a sideline.

Yeah, take a look at the ADD/ADHD incidence rate among the population. I'd say distracted attention apart from technological gadgets and kids, etc. is more a problem than realised. Could be just a part of our modern lifestyle.

Since the government always knows best, maybe a mental health evaluation as part of the health plan is in order. That, and all those LE cameras will keep us safe. Oh, and a law against kids in the car!

Yeah. Well some of the things I've seen drivers do lead me to believe they shouldn't be driving in the first place .. let alone whether or not there's a radio or passengers

Nuvi1300WTGPS

Nuvi1300WTGPS@Gmail.com

All the Garmin GPS's I have purchased have the safety set at the factory and the first time you try to set the unit while moving, it asks if you want it turned off. If the units had a motion lock out someone would figure out how to disable that "feature".

What it all comes down to is training. Police use in car computers. Taxi cabs, fire trucks, ambulances all have distractions in the cabs but there isn't a ban on them. Some people shouldn't be driving in the first place and I would rather have someone using a GPS to find a location rather than stopping in the middle of a street to do a U turn when they can't find where there are going.

Yes the show displayed gross distraction on the part of the drivers but anyone with common sense would wait until they had a safe opportunity to set the buttons.

It was a classic cause and effect report but I would feel better if the police spent the money catching drunk drivers.

Bob