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US Agency Aims To Regulate Map Aids In Vehicles
An anonymous reader writes in with news about proposed rules regarding mapping technology used in cars.Many are in favor of rules that prevent texting while driving, but in-car navigation is a murkier legal area — how do you minimize distractions without limiting the ability to get from point A to point B? Like it or not, the US government may settle that debate before long. The proposed Grow America Act would let the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) set rules for dash-mounted GPS units, smartphone mapping apps and anything else you'd use for driving directions. While it's not clear what the NHTSA would do with its power, the Department of Transportation's voluntary guidelines ask for limits on eye-catching visuals (think videos) and interaction times; don't be surprised if these enter the rulebooks.
This will all be wasted time once Google perfects the self driving car.
Our government has better things to do than waste MY tax dollars on such nonsense! Sigh..
"Trusting every aspect of our lives to a giant computer was the smartest thing we ever did.." Homer Simpson
Maybe they should consider getting all of the various other areas they "oversee" under control before they start trying to expand their power even further.
They want to regulate mapping apps on smartphones, including those not installed in vehicles? Seems like more than a bit of a stretch.
So long speed trap alerts in Waze.
I'd love for them to limit the type and amount of distractions from my wife telling me where to go, too.
Wait, your GPS can give directions to Hell?
There will likely always be an exception. The car doesn't know that you are the only person in the car, and there is no reason that a passenger can't input nav data while the vehicle is in motion.
This will make for some great action movies though. Imagive the hero doesn't know where he needs to be, but can't stop the vehicle for GPS to work because there is a carload of mafia terrorists chasing him.
Ninjas don't carry tic tacs
So what if someone else in the car is looking at the directions while you are driving? Will their ability to look at directions be significantly hampered?
It is a good thing that these Congress people don't have any important things to worry about so they can focus on this ridiculous crap.
In the mean time my car might just drive on an interstate with failing bridges, or into a tunnel with ceiling tiles that could fall at any moment, but focusing on this is obviously the best thing for Congress to do.
As stupid as this is, it will save more lives than any firearms regulation ever will.
Keep in mind how you feel about this regulation, then re-evaluate your stance on gun control. You don't have to change your mind, just think about it long and hard. Cars kill far far more people every year than guns ever could. Why allow people to have cars? There's no constitutional right to drive... Banning them would significantly reduce global warming pollutants... Ban cars, force public transport and foot traffic.
I may have issues with my Ford, but I think they got it right in terms of Navigation. I have little-to-no reason to have to look at my media center. Everything is done by voice (including asking for an address) and the next-step-direction-guide is on my speedometer where I have to glance on occasion anyway.
The only improvement I can think of is a really small projection on the windshield saying "Turn right in 0.7 miles onto Main st"
All voice controlled, so I don't have to even try typing while driving (if I were so inclined). Click my tumb-button on the steering wheel and say "Destination Address" and then state the address when prompted.
The system's voice prompts me on where to turn, and when. Including the street names and exit number.
And instead of having to look too far down at my media player (which I COULD), instead there is a mini direction-reminder on my speedometer. Just saying the name of the next turn's street, distance, and a left-arrow / right-arrow / etc. Since I tend to have to glance down at that every couple of minutes anyway it's no big deal.
No fuss, no typing, no looking too far away from the windshield.
Can we also get rid of animating billboards? Those slideshow transitions are distracting when driving since the brain pays attention to movement.
The NHTSA has finally caught up with me.
Around 2001 or so I rigged a pair of laptops with GPS and Wifi (high tech!) so they relayed coordinates to each other and ran a star-trek esque battle game. The passenger would hold the laptop which showed the opponents position and shields as well as weapons fire. They would feed information to the driver who would dodge virtual torpedoes.
A few friends of mine tested this out, but I abandoned the project because this surely would have killed people.
Please dont do stupid things like regulate that these devices must disable user interaction when the vehicle is travelling over a speed limit.
Unless the device can accurately detect if there is a passenger or not. This "safety feature" of my cars factory nav/media unit drives me up the wall...the passengers! the passengers! why wont *somebody* please think of the passengers!
Ah, but Mr. Heston could shoot people trying to take his gun. You could only throw your map aid/gps at them. ;-> (OK, Or possibly run them over with your car)
Your point would be better taken if you (and I mean the generic you, not you specifically) did not risk others lives by the actions that you take. I'd be perfectly happy to let you do whatever you wish in your vehicle but when a mistake on your part can kill me, then I'm happy to have the government interfere with your ability to do so.