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In-Car Navigation Systems Too Distracting?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the don't-look-at-the-light dept.

Lam1969 writes "A survey released by an insurance company shows that drivers with in-car navigation systems are more likely to lose concentration than drivers who unfold a map while driving. From the article: 'One in 10 motorists with navigation systems set off on their journeys without bothering to program their route, and more than half admitted that they then had to take their eyes off the road to input the details while driving. Nearly one in eight did not even bother to check out a route they were unfamiliar with and simply relied on the technology to get them to their destination.'"

6 of 265 comments (clear)

  1. Yet... by MorderVonAllem · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...every single item mentioned in the article that applied to GPS Navigation systems could be applied to conventional maps, at least with a GPS Navigation system it could talk to you without you having to look at it (Tom Tom http://www.tomtom.com/ for instance). Then it would take your eyes away from it and on the road where it belongs.

    However you do navigate, you must plan ahead.

    -My $.02

    1. Re:Yet... by jo7hs2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think the real problem with the GPS systems is placement. We rented a car with GPS Nav recently, and it was infinately more dangerous for me to use while driving then either my handheld GPS, or a map which I could unfold on the steering wheel only to the part I need. To use the GPS as installed in most vehicles, you have to move away from the steering wheel with at least one hand, and as such I would compare it more to the dangers of using a radio then a map. As per the talking, I find the talking fairly distracting too, but in addition, the talking features as well as the bells and whistles and real time updates become a constant distraction, whereas a map is a one shot deal, and plus, the talking might lull you into thinking you could use it while driving, while many people (most of the time meyself included) will pull over to use a map.

  2. A shift in driving by Statecraftsman · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Since the customerwants to do other things while driving and the customer is always right, I don't see the distraction factor going down no matter what kind of enhancements are made to the nav system. What this really illustrates is that drivers are bored with driving.

    We need a more active accident avoidance system and other systems to reduce the need for driver intervention. If the driver wants to be less involved in the act of driving, the vehicle will naturally need to take up the slack.

  3. well this is a problem but.. by bLindmOnkey · · Score: 4, Insightful

    i'd argue that cell phones are worse. In the past year I've had some close calls with other cars on many occasions. When I glance at the driver 9 out of 10 of them were people yapping away on their cell phones, usually forgetting to turn their heads left, right, and/or behind them. I find myself cursing at these people helplessly from inside my car. nevertheless, anything on the dash can be distracting, ESPECIALLY a brightlit 7 inch screen with moving things on it. I took a roadtrip with a buddy using my laptop for GPS (i was the trip's navigator). I told my friend(the driver) to keep his eyes on the road while I told him where to turn based on the GPS nav(in addition to the computer voice in case he missed it.) Yet, Every few minutes or so I'd catch him glancing down at the laptop screen on my lap instead of paying attention to the 18 wheeler in front of us. Luckily I caught him most of the time and nothing happened but it's reallly easy to see just how dangerous distractions can be on the road.

  4. Re:And this is diffrent how? by Aardpig · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How about the navigation software telling them to turn into a one-way street, driving the wrong way? I have an acquaintance who drives like this, blindly following the software without actually reading the road. It scares the hell out of me.

    --
    Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
  5. Darwinian dashboards by jheath314 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Actually, the one that really gets my goat is TVs built right into the dashboard. With all the fuss people raised about cell-phones being distracting, I have no idea how auto manufacturers managed to slip this one under the radar. (In theory the TV is supposed to be off unless the vehicle is in park, but the safety switch is easy to disable and many ethically challenged auto shops will do it for you.) How any sane government could have let this pass regulations just blows my mind.

    OTOH, maybe they did it on purpose. GM: Better Drivers through Darwinian Selection.

    --
    Procrastination Man strikes again!