GPS Nav May Be Dangerous Distraction
February 21st, 2006 | Published in Culture, Technology | 8 Comments
GPS Nav May Be Dangerous Distraction
A British auto insurance company said on Tuesday that in-car GPS navigation systems might be doing more harm than good by distracting drivers. Even more surprising, the company’s findings suggest that navigation systems could be more disruptive than trying to read a map at the wheel.
Next thing you know they’ll be saying in-car video games, televisions, and dvd players are distracting and dangerous. Perhaps at some point the question will be asked “Is this really necessary?” But by then, I suppose, we’ll have moved on to XL-Transparent-Windshield-GPS VI, which will be factory installed in Hummers. Pedestrian deaths will only rise 5%, and that will be seen as an acceptable consequence for progress—although progress from what will yet to be determined.
October 18th, 2006 at 12:49 pm (#)
I am doing field research for major GPS navigation companies in conjunction with my graduate studies. If any of you are interested in participating in an online focus group, please visit: http://www.DesignAndReason.com/survey.html or email me: mailto:stanford.148@osu.edu
February 18th, 2010 at 9:34 pm (#)
How far is this thing going to go? If they blaming driver distraction on cell phone usage and GPS devices that are meant to keep us from getting lost in unknown locations, what’s next? Are they going to make the leap that listening to music in our vehicles is distracting? The analogy is that people could be distracted by emotional and/or heated phone calls and text messages. Is it not also true that someone could get just as heated and emotional, if not more, as a result of conversation between the driver and his/her passengers? Are we going to be forbidden to have people ride in our vehicles with us too? There is talk of creating a device that would not allow phone calls or text messages to reach a cell phone while the vehicle is in operation. Does this mean that passengers are forbidden from using there phones also? What’s going to happen, if this device is made necessary, when a parent missing a call that is attempt to alert them that their child has been abducted? What will happen when a spouse, parent or child is being rushed to the hospital and the driver missing the call that could be the last moment that spouse, parent or child will ever see their loved one alive again. Are we going to permit law enforcement and fire departments to break through the device and connect with the cell phone. Would this not cause an even bigger distraction, it would be a highly emotional event. Speaking of law enforcement, are they exempt from these devices? What about the laptops in their cruisers, are they not just as distracted when typing on the device or looking at the screen while driving? Recently a woman’s car broke down on the highway, she called her state troopers and one was being dispatched to her location. When the officer arrived, he found her car to be totaled and the woman deceased. While waiting for the state trooper, the woman was hit by a truck driver that was using his laptop while driving. So, again I ask, what about laptop use? Will law enforcement be exempt from these laws? Are they not already exempt from using their cell phones while driving, as I have seen plenty of police, sheriffs and state troopers breaking this law since it went into effect.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:37 pm (#)
There are a trillion distractions in life all the time, but I like this new awareness. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Between the cell phone and now the GPS, these have killed more people than drunk driving caused in all the years of liquor use compared to these new electronics.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:45 pm (#)
You the driver become the robot!!!
February 18th, 2010 at 9:56 pm (#)
I NEVER program a GPS while driving. I always do that before heading to my location, and my vehicle is parked when I program.
I use a headset for my cell phone so I’m not driving with 1 hand on the wheel.
Common sense prevails.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:15 pm (#)
Per Susan Florence,Using a GPS system causes more highway deaths than alcohol? Really, remind me where she lives so I can avoid the area.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:36 pm (#)
Attention should be on driving..
period……..
everything else
including giving a turn signal, looking in the mirror
eating, applying make up ( yes) phone, text, I M , Changing radio . music station, talking to passengers, aggressive attitude.. just to name a few
now add GPS.. make the vehicle a vehicle for accidents, death, injury DRiver be ware of other drivers.
February 18th, 2010 at 11:39 pm (#)
Next will be radar detectors.