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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 drjoebdavis - 5/31/07 2:54 PM In reply to: Pro Cell Phones in cars by impatient oneCan't you folks get it through your technologically scrambled heads? HANDS-FREE CELL PHONES ARE STILL JUST AS DANGEROUS AS DRIVING WHILE DRINKING! If you want to talk, talk. If you want to drive, drive. You simply can't do both at the same time.
Stereos, DVD music players (as long as you aren't in the throes of selecting and changing disks, GPS and stereo are nothing but BACKGROUND mental tasks. Driving needs your FULL attention; it's not just a secondary task while you're arguing with Aunt Mildred, trying to get the kids quieted, making plans with your spouse (or arguing, as the case may be) or trying to persuade a customer to wait a few more minutes because you're running late.
The sole exception for using a cell phone while driving is an emergency call where life and/or limb may be at risk. The emergency operator will understand if you're somewhat inattentive to what you're saying.
Now quit coming up with these lame brain excuses for neglecting your driving while you're talking on the phone. Pay attention to your driving and I won't have to head for the bushes to avoid your dumb ass.
Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars?
by GroundHoggg - 5/31/07 5:33 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by drjoebdavisYou wrote: "HANDS-FREE CELL PHONES ARE STILL JUST AS DANGEROUS AS DRIVING WHILE DRINKING!"
Alright... why are a cell phone as dangerous as driving while drinking?
If the cell phone explode in yours ears, then it can be dangerous, BUT NOBODY CAN BE SERIOUS ABOUT THAT HANDS FREE TALKING IS LIKE DANGEROUS AS DRIVING WHILE DRINKING.
If the police stop me and ask why I'm drinking when I'm driving, I just tell then that somebody on CNET forum told me that it is not more dangerous to drink and drive then it is to talk to my mother on a hands free phone - they will not buy it.
It's for sure that a hands free phone is not as dangerous as drinking when driving (maybe if you only drink water).
Dont think ear pieces are just as dangerous as cell phones?
by Mack.christine - 9/13/07 10:55 AM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by GroundHogggUniversity of Utah has actually done a study on this.
Cell phones AND ear pieces are dangerous while driving.
http://www.psych.utah.edu/AppliedCognitionLab/DrivingAssessment2003.pdf
Of course it varies from person to person, but for the sake of my sanity I just want to end this ear pieces aren't dangerous arguement.
Deal with the problem, not the products.
by Mark Lake - 5/31/07 2:50 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
Let's get real people. This conversation is pointless. We kill and maim thousands of people year in and year out. Banning the cell phone, GPS, Big Macs, meaningful conversations and small children from our cars will not help. There will always be distractions.
How we as drivers deal with these distractions is the problem. Our system of awarding driver's license to anyone who can pass a rudimentary multiple choice test on traffic laws is the problem. A total lack of understanding of the hazards we face on the road, combined with insufficient skills to deal with them is the problem. Where we finish our licensing process should be just the beginning. We need to REQUIRE advanced driver training from EVERYONE on the road with recertification of skills to renew not just the ability to write a check.
Don't agree? When was the last time you walked around your car before you left for work in the morning? How about those tires? Are they properly inflated and wearing evenly? Do you pop the hood daily to see if anything looks amiss? How about the lights? Do they all work and are they aligned properly? These are some simple and easy things we have within our control that commercial drivers are required to perform daily. Our cars have become so safe and reliable that we have become overly complacent and neglect these basic checks.
But who has the time it takes to look at all that stuff anyhow? We have to get on the road and deal with all those IDIOTS out there. So let's eliminate the idiots! No, I am not advocating drive by shootings, just vastly improving the skills and awareness levels of all drivers. This can be done in advanced drivers training classrooms, high-tech simulators and actual behind the wheel sessions. If we create a comprehensive plan to turn the idiots into skilled drivers, we can have safe roads and cell phones too.
How would that commute be if everyone on the road was actually paying attention and their cars were in good operating condition? I vote to leave the cell phones in and get the idiots out!
Take away the bad driver and lock that person up.
by vertdriver7 - 5/31/07 3:36 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
OMG, If it weren't for the bad driver then all of these discussions in the forum would not exist. This is so much like newspapers, alcohol, drugs, guns, kitchen knives, baseball bats, paint cans, etc. If you remove the human element only the aliens will use these devices to kill us.
Cellular Phones Should be banned while driving.
by helenw4 - 5/31/07 3:40 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
I think Cellular phones should be banned totally while driving. It is okay to have while driving, but not to have conversations. Too many tragedy and accidents.
Have seen some myself due to this fact. You can sometimes see them arguing on the phone, and lose track of where they are at. This I have witnessed myself, and actually saw an accident happening. since then have been dead set against Cellular phones while driving. Keep one for Emergency, but go home to make your telephone calls or have conversations or argue. The road is not for that, it is for driving safely. Not to endanger others lives as well as your won. So keep the roads safe for all to enjoy. RESPECT YOUR DRIVING PRIVILEGE AT ALL TIMES. LESS TRAGEDIES, SORROWS AND REGRETS TO FOLLOW.
Just pay more attention...
by naughtybuddy - 5/31/07 3:49 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
The speed with which technology moves these days is amazing and a little scarry. I belive the limitastions of what a person can do behind the wheel of a car is determined on how multi-task-capable that person is. With inter-active GPS systems and bluetooth technology integraded into newer models cars, driving and conferencing is a peice of cake. The only boundery for using these toys while driving should be by the car operator. As the old saying goes, "Know thy self", you should know if you are capable of handling driving and talking on the phone and/or using GPS at the same time.
Irresponsible
by jaredmok - 5/31/07 3:54 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
You see them driving, holding a phone to their ear - talking, laughing or arguing with someone on the other end. Sometimes their car does a wander or they slow right down, speed up, slow right down again, to the annoyance of responsible drivers. They fail to set off from junctions when they have the chance because their minds are on the phone call. They are a danger to other road users and pedestrians whether they like to admit it or not.
Just pay more attention...
by drjoebdavis - 5/31/07 6:19 PM In reply to: Irresponsible by jaredmoknaughtybuddy
We'retalking about real drivers, not those like you with an ego eclipsed only by Jupiter. You just think you can multi-task ad infinitum. Someday you'll have an airbag in your face and think it was somebody else's fault.
For several years I've taught the AARP Driver Safety Course. Students have ranged in age from 50 to 55 to 60 and above. Most of them have eclipsed the half million mark or better. NOT ONE has the habit of using a cell phone while driving. Let's see how far you can go with your multi-tasking foolishness.
It depends upon several things...
by nikl1 - 5/31/07 6:31 PM In reply to: Irresponsible by jaredmokHi folks,
This argument will never end because different people have different abilities! I have been driving in the UK for over 45 years and have seen many changes - the worst is that the roads in the south east are now terribly crowded (the nearest I've seen in the US is LA at rush hour).
There are more chances of accidents on a crowded road and using a cell phone is quite enough to push some people beyond their limits - but a lot of guys who have accidents are 'accident-prone'!
I know I'm not, as I have had ONE car accident in about 250000 miles and NO motorcycle accidents in about 300000 miles. I have also driven in the US (Boston MA. to Newark NJ., New York NY. to Rochester NY & back, San Francisco CA. to L.A. & the Salton sea & back - in an RV - Albuquerque NM to the Mesa Verde Co, to Grand Canyon AR. & back to Albuquerque, plus many trips around Washington DC, Virginia, Tennesee, Houston TX. Etc) with no accidents. And in Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Malta, Greece and on German autobahns at up to 140 Miles per Hour! I am old enough to have driven a motorcycle on British roads at over 90 MPH - before there were speed limits - and naturally drove without seat belts for years (they hadn't been invented!).
BUT - I had far less distractions! The roads I used to drive on at 80MPH are now festooned with 50, 40 and 30MPH signs, 'Slow' signs and THOUSANDS of 'Safety Camaras' plus lines and messages all over the road! A survey by one of our motoring organisations confirmed that MOST ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY DRIVERS BEING DISTRACTED - and that definitely includes distraction by road signs etc.! In the north of england 2 years ago there was a very good (warm) year for plant growth and a lot of trees grew over road signs - the result was LESS accidents.
It is assumed now by governments that everyone is an idiot and must be instructed all the time to obey (increasingly strict) traffic laws. Well, there ARE some folks driving who should NOT be on the road, as they are not able to keep enough attention on the road to be safe - and as I said before, a cellphone, or even looking at a GPS map is quite enough to be the 'last straw' - when added to the many distractions already present (there are worse distractions than cell phones - try driving a school bus full of 8-12 year olds!).
There should be a test for ability to MULTITASK. I can surf the net, watch a video and listen to music all at once - or cook a hot meal, using 3 pans & a toaster, without spoiling any of the food. If you cannot multitask, you should not drive on busy roads with ANY distractions in the automobile.
The concentration upon 'Health and Safety' in recent years has actually made roads more dangerous. There are many more distracting signs, but the REAL idiots don't take any notice of them and drive (into other guys) at a constant speed. I can drive fast & safely, because I had practice - so I can drive on a German autobahn without holding up the locals. The Germans may have a good idea there - if there is no speed limit, the bad drivers get wiped out (like in nature, it's 'survival of the fittest'). GPS & Cellphones are definitely not to be recommended when travelling at 140 MPH plus!!
But I must say I found it most relaxing driving down a straight highway in the Arizona desert - with NO ROAD SIGNS!
Nick
Good grief.
by maldain - 5/31/07 5:01 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
Sorry but a GPS particularly a talking GPS is going to make it safer as it gives directions verbally rather than visually. Even the visual GPS can save both time and danger as the user isn't poking along on a busy street looking for an address.
GPS & cell phones in automobiles
by Stubear57 - 5/31/07 5:59 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
I believe that anything that takes your eyes off the road for longer than a half second is too long. I have OnStar and it is very handy because my eyes stay on the road. I do have a regular cell phone and realize the danger as it takes my eyes off the road to use. It gets turned off while I drive.
Vehicles with GPS screens would only be a worse situation because you need to read maps, etc. Sure, they are nice to have but people tend to continue driving while using this technology. Maybe manufacturers should disable the GPS screen while the vehicle is in gear or moving and only allow voice control to operate the system. That would keep your eyes on the road and make driving a lot safer.
New technology
by carynna - 5/31/07 6:10 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
Wayne....I like the idea of voice activated commands very much and audible replies are a plus. Both hands on the steering wheel and eyes on the road - excellent!
I am against phones in the car but for gps
by knight2448 - 5/31/07 6:44 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
GPS can be used without distracting the driver if the driver programs the place they want to go before they leave.
I am VERY AGAINST CELL phones used in the car. I live in San Antonio TX and everyday on the way to work I see people driving slow, weaving back and forth, and just not paying attention because they are on the darn phone.
I think it should be outlawed in all 50 states that if you are caught talking on the phone while driving primary offense (which means cops can pull you over if they see you) because it is dangerous to everyone. I also see it all day while I am working, I work for Stanley Steemer, so I spend 75% of my work day driving. It is very dangerous and this company has a policy if I get in an accident regardless of fault I have to do a drug test and I get 3 days off, without pay.
That is my feelings on the subject.
Yessssssssss GPS!
by Basilby - 5/31/07 6:45 PM In reply to: Are you for or against GPS and cell phones in cars? by wcunning
I have a text to speech NUVI GPS in my car. This is 2007 folks! It will be standard practice soon. You never get lost. You never take your eyes off the road. Everyone has to go somewhere....and what is better... A Thomas Guide Map Book? The new NUVI allows hands free through it from Bluetooth phones so your hands are still on the wheel.
NO ONE can stop technology, just improve on it. I am PRO GPS!
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