Car Tech: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars?
- 5/22/07 5:29 PM
Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars?
by wcunning - 5/22/07 5:29 PM
In my recent column, Driver distracted, I wrote about improvements from auto makers so car gadgets will be safer to use while driving. What do you think of new car interfaces for GPS, cell phones, and other car gadgets?
Driver-in-command
by treet007 - 5/23/07 10:32 AM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
As driver-in-command, you are the sole responsible person for the safety and welfare of your car while driving. I believe every driver knows that. The problem I believe is knowing your limits and when to terminate/ignore the distractions to concentrate on driving. I have a hands-free phone, but I do not always answer it. I even tell the listener on the phone to "standby" if I am making turns or something requires my attention. Using GPS, radio, eating, etc. is the same situation. I would pull over to a parking lot if I had to do a lot on the GPS (like entering my destination), then I would resume my driving once I am ready to concentrate on my driving. If I have a passenger who talks a lot, I actually would (and did in some occassions) ask the person to hush since he/she is distracting my driving, or if time permits, take a break from driving by going to a rest stop or restaurant to finish chatting.
No amount of technology will solve the human piece of the puzzle. Only the human him/herself can solve that.
cell phone
by superchf - 5/30/07 4:30 PM In reply to: Driver-in-command by treet007I think cell phones should be made not to be able to work while in a moving automobile. I almost got killed in a possible accident on the freeway here in California. If your driving pay attention to driving not talking on the phone
Are you almost not there?
by lhufty - 5/30/07 7:42 PM In reply to: cell phone by superchfHow can you be almost killed in an almost accident? Sounds like you have been playing too many video games.
almost
by fgfsumh - 5/31/07 11:14 AM In reply to: Are you almost not there? by lhuftyThis guy here sounds like the ones that can multi task almost a hundred things at a time. One day when you least expect it you'll find out that driving is a full time job, especially with you almost multi taskers.
Someone is "almost not there"
by hrwaller - 5/31/07 4:13 PM In reply to: Are you almost not there? by lhuftyYou've never had a "near miss" where only very quick action prevented a collision, usually because the other driver was doing something other than paying attention to driving? Either you are extremely lucky or you haven't driven much in Oklahoma where between cell phones, cigarettes, or keeping track of their spit cups there isn't a lot of attention left over.
how about almost survived
by peter4012 - 7/4/07 3:40 PM In reply to: Are you almost not there? by lhuftyIf you find almost accidents a safe operation than I truely think your license should be revoked ! where do you draw the line, the almost fatal accident that only parlized the driver, the almost dangerous that only cost thousands to fix, the almost collission that only resulted in a heartattack ... drivers with that attitude are a danger to all ... normal driving is risky at best, why live at the 98% almost where the odds are that one day you will be "almost survived"
PS: no problem with answering a quick call (short) but no chitchat, messaging, contact search and for that matter whatching a GPS screen
peter
Almost only happens in video games
by peter4012 - 7/4/07 3:46 PM In reply to: Are you almost not there? by lhuftySoory but I need a second reply, I believe you've been living too many video games where all the dead people and creatures are right back again on "restart' too bad we don't have a 'new game' button on real life, 50,000 drivers a year in the US would love to find it
Peter
anything can be a distraction including a clutch
by david2908 - 5/31/07 3:48 AM In reply to: cell phone by superchfAll cell phone use while driving should be banned. I depend on my GPS to get me to my destinations but I progam it before leaving my drive way. It is the best navigator I have ever had.
Cel phones, etc.
by vasmith1 - 6/1/07 2:16 PM In reply to: anything can be a distraction including a clutch by david2908Cel phones should not be used while driving - period!
I do not wish to die because another driver was unnecessarily distracted especially when the vast majority of those cel phone conversations have no urgency to them and could wait until you were parked somewhere. There is just too much multi-tasking going on in cars these days. Life on the road has become increasingly dangerous because of cel phones, coffee drinking, cigarette lighting, nail polish doing, shaving, hair combing, etc. Our cars are lethal weapons and the misuse of them(by multi-tasking) should be a felony punishable as severely as a DUI should be.
The GPS use is ok if it is programmed while you are standing still. I find the directions given help me to prepare to make my turns properly and assist in preventing sudden moves across lanes and remind me to timely start signalling for turns. If used properly they will prevent accidents not cause them.
Victor
Not a chance. That's a bad path of thinking.
by Andy77e - 6/2/07 2:08 PM In reply to: anything can be a distraction including a clutch by david2908See I could buy that. I could buy that cell phones should not be used in cars. But all of you need to think where this path goes. Follow the idea to it's logical conclusion.
If we are going to ban cell phones from cars because they are a distraction and could cause an accident... what else should also be banned? Drinks? Food? Drive-throughs? Lights of any kind? Pagers? In car-TVs? Animals of any kind? Portable games like Gameboy or PSP? GPSs? Even car steros?
Every single one of those is a possible distraction that could cause an accident. I have been hit twice in recent times. First time it was a guy in a truck with his dog. Right before the stop light, the dog acted crazy and the man didn't brake in time. The second, the guy was messing with his stero and rammed me without even touching his breaks.
So if we're going to ban phones for this, steros and animals should also be banned from cars, as well as everything else.
Then you have to ask how would we enforce this? Will police officers be pulling everyone with anything distracting in their cars? Will everyone get a ticket for doing anything slightly distracting whether they cause a problem or not? Do you realize the man power that would be needed to enforce this law?
I submit to you, the better way is simply to make people accountable for their own actions. If they crash, they pay for it. You do the deed, you are responsible for it.
There is risk in freedom, but the risk is far better than a locked down risk free, freedomless society.
Agree with bad path of thinking
by surmisez - 6/3/07 8:26 PM In reply to: Not a chance. That's a bad path of thinking. by Andy77e>>>I submit to you, the better way is simply to make people accountable for their own actions. If they crash, they pay for it. You do the deed, you are responsible for it.
There is risk in freedom, but the risk is far better than a locked down risk free, freedomless society.<<<
I agree 100%.
Society keeps trying to "child proof" the world. I do not need, nor want all this coddling. It's ridiculous and insulting, and breeds complete contempt for your fellow man.
People need to realize that they are solely responsible for their actions. As a society, we need to hold adults responsible for their own actions and stop blaming the manufacturers for how their products are used.
Cell Phones have a Useful Function in the Car
by richkras - 5/31/07 4:13 AM In reply to: cell phone by superchfIn my opinion, as long as you are wearing a headset, don't get into long personal conversations and don't do much hand-dialing, cell phones can be a very positive addition to your car. If there is an emergency, you can be contacted. If there is one you are witnessing or involved in, you can contact the appropriate authorities. I was in back of a car that was driving extremely erratically...on a two lane road, swerving into the oncoming lane and then across into the breakdown lane, etc. I called 911 and was in contact with my local Police department within seconds. I gave them the license number and vehicle make. I continued to follow the car while giving the police a blow-by-blow description of what the driver in front of me was doing and letting them know precisely where we were. When the cruiser intercepted us, I turned off my phone and watched as the police observed the driver's erratic behavior and pulled her over. In the next day's paper, I read that a woman had been stopped at that location and time and was arrested for DUI. Maybe somebody was saved from serious injury or worse. Bottom line, just use common sense. It's a lot easier to dial 911, or even another programmed number, and speak on your headset, than it is to go through your CD collection while driving and make CD changes on the fly. I think talking while holding a phone when driving is very dangerous. That's why it's illegal in Connecticut.
Thanks,
RK
Are you serious?
by batman823 - 5/31/07 10:09 AM In reply to: cell phone by superchfIf I got bitten by a shark or stung by a jellyfish while I was in japan, I wouldn't demand that all sealife were exterminated. You're essentially claiming that same thing on a different level. The cell-phone that person was using is the reason why he/she almost hit you. Whether it be a cell-phone, make-up or burger, that person was a bad driver with bad habits. Also, I'm surprised that you have only had one close call living in California.
On the subject. There is nothing wrcong with using a cell-phone while driving, provided you are being responsible with it. I believe it should be ok for you to use the phone if it is on speaker and tucked under your seatbelt on your chest. I do this sometimes when I don't have the earpiece plugged in. If you an afford all that bluetooth stuff, then that's even safer than the earpiece with the long wire. Most phones have voice regognition capabilities. All I have to to is hold the button on the earpiece wire for 2 seconds and use the voice prompts when driving. It is unacceptable to be driving, especially a stick, while using either hand for anything but driving. Interactive devices only make the problem worse. Anything that takes your attention off the road should be used the bare minimum. I tend to have my passenger light my cigarette for me and I never dial the phone. I will either use the voice feature digit dial or I'll wait until I get to my destination or a stop sign/light.
Message was edited by: admin
sealife
by Manuel S. - 6/1/07 12:56 PM In reply to: Are you serious? by batman823I absolutely agree with your answer to superchef on all respects, except for one small detail, if you were bitten by a shark or stung by a jellyfish on Japan, that would also be YOUR fault, because they leave in the sea, and we don't, so the solution would be getting the heck out of the water and let the animals in peace where they belong! I'm sorry, no offence but that was a very ridiculous comparison.
As I said before, however, I DO agree with your answer.
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